Assembly members Joseph Cryan and Annette Quijano and Senator Raymond Lesniak (all D-Union) on Monday joined with members of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in calling for a wage increase to $10.10 an hour for workers at Newark International Airport.
In doing so, the 20th district lawmakers who represent Elizabeth, which is home to part of Newark Airport, called on Governor Christie and the Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to get on board with New York’s plan to raise wages for airport workers at JFK and LaGuardia airports.
“This is about creating a livable wage for workers who are tasked with demanding jobs that carry weighty responsibilities,” said Lesniak. “In order to maintain a certain level of quality in the delivery of these services, we need to provide a fair and decent wage that’s in line with other airports in the region.”
“The President has called for increasing federal wages to $10.10 an hour. Gov. Cuomo and his appointee at the Port Authority have called for increasing New York airport workers wages to $10.10 as well. It’s time for Gov. Christie and his appointee at the Port Authority to stand up for working families and demand the same for Newark airport workers,” said Cryan.
“We cannot expect to continue attracting the level of quality employees needed to handle these important jobs if we don’t deliver a more realistic living wage,” said Quijano. “In order to provide passengers with a safe traveling experience, we need to support decent working standards and wages that allow employees to support a family.”
Lesniak and Quijano were among the attendees at a rally held by SEIU at Newark Airport today in support of the wage increases.