Teen Activists, including Dreamers and High School Gun Reform Activists to Hold Press Conference in Perth Amboy in Support of Including Teens in NJ Minimum Wage Hike

Teens will Denounce Threats to Exclude Youth from $15 Minimum Wage as the Latest Attack on Youth

Press Conference Will Accompany Report Release by National Employment Law Center and New Jersey Policy Perspective on the Teen Workers Wages’ Impact on Household Income and State’s Economy

Perth Amboy, NJ (September 7, 2018): Teens have been under attack from gun violence, and immigration enforcement. Now, as New Jersey moves forward to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour, teen workers are at risk of being left behind. This Monday, teen workers, teen gun control activists and Dreamers will join together to denounce threats to carve out youth workers from the minimum wage as the latest attack on youth.

Teen workers work side-by-side with their older counterparts across industries, and they often perform the same work. Many young workers come from struggling low- and middle-income households, and their earnings provide essential household income. Young workers are also often high school and college students who study hard and work long hours to try and cover at least some of their education expenses and save for college. A higher minimum wage would allow them to cover more of tuition costs, finish school more quickly, and take out fewer loans.

Over the last ten weeks this summer, working class youth from Make the Road New Jersey have conducted a canvass across the state to collect thousands of petition signatures in support of a clean $15 minimum wage.

WHO: Make the Road New Jersey teen members, including teen gun reform activists, Dreamers and teen workers

WHAT: Press Conference to Support a Clean $15 Minimum Wage with No Carveouts; Report Release by National Employment Law Center and New Jersey Policy Perspective
WHERE: 313 State Street, Perth Amboy, New Jersey
WHY: As legislators threaten to exclude youth workers from a minimum wage increase to $15/hour in New Jersey, youth workers are organizing to fight for a clean $15 minimum wage without any carveouts for youth workers, farm workers or tipped workers.
WHEN: Monday September 10, 1 p.m.

Visuals, teen workers and teen gun control and Dream activists

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