Dear NJ State AFL-CIO E-Activist,

Did you know?

• In 2007, the overall cost of living in New Jersey was the fourth highest in the nation, yet as of June 2008, 14 states plus the District of Columbia have a higher minimum wage.*

• Based upon legislation already enacted and inflation projections, by 2010, New Jersey will rank 17th in regard to the minimum wage level.*

• New Jersey is one of ten states with the largest increase in income disparity since the late 1980s. It is ninth in the growth of inequality between the top and bottom earners, and seventh in growth of inequality between high and middle income residents.*

• Although New Jersey is one of the more progressive states in the nation, it has yet to act on indexing the minimum wage - ten other states, many of which have a significantly lower cost of living, have already done so.*

• According to a report issued in April 2008, in New Jersey 20% of workers do not earn enough to afford the most basic essentials, including housing and food. The study specifies that the lowest hourly wage in which a single worker with no children can earn in order to afford these essentials in the least expensive county in the state is $8.58.*

Is New Jersey's minimum wage too low? 

If so, please send your comments to the MWAC.  The New Jersey Minimum Wage Advisory Committee (MWAC) is seeking comment on the adequacy of the minimum wage in the State. The Commission will meet in September to examine the testimony and will then issue its annual report to the Legislature with a recommendation.

If you are interested in letting Commission members, including the New Jersey Department of Labor Commissioner, know your opinion on this very important issue, please submit written comments to the MWAC, no later than September 7, 2008, either via email to NJMWAC@dol.state.nj.us or through the regular mail to the following address: Shelly Friedman, Executive Assistant, Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Office of Labor Standards and Safety Enforcement, P.O. Box 054, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0054.

To view the New Jersey’s State AFL-CIO testimony to the MWAC, CLICK HERE.

*To view sources for this information, please click on the above link.