By: Yuritza Arroyo/Richard L. Smith
Essential New Jersey workers, 32BJ SEIU, and allied elected officials ended a months-long effort to secure the passage of the Worker Retention bill with two key Yes votes in both houses of the state legislature.
According to officials, with its passage, the groundbreaking new law makes New Jersey the second state in the United States to offer tens of thousands of building, airport passenger, and food service workers vital job protections.
“When there is a sudden change in management, the workers most directly impacted by that development should not be treated as an afterthought,” said 32BJ SEIU Executive Vice President and NJ State Director Kevin Brown. “32BJ thanks Assembly Speaker Coughlin and Senate President Scutari for their leadership as this bill moved through the legislative process.
We also thank Assemblyman Gary Schaer and Senator Troy Singleton for their sponsorship of these bills. Our union thanks all of the New Jersey State legislators who voted YES today. Thanks to their work, New Jersey is becoming the second state in the country to protect service employees. Now, New Jersey’s janitors, security, porters, concierges, handypersons, and other service workers will be protected from unfairly losing their jobs due to a contract change.”
“Every time the contract changes hands we go through the stress of possibly losing our jobs. This is no way to live. As school cafeteria workers, we are there for the children. We understand that some of them only get the meals they get at school,” said Plainfield School Food Services Worker Tiffany Green Hayward.
“It is necessary to create a climate of stability among the workers. This law would be the perfect way to let us know that we matter and that we are appreciated.”
The legislation creates a 60-day grace period for service workers after a change in contractor. This reasonable job protection measure would apply to schools, apartment complexes, and numerous other buildings statewide.
“Workers need job security and when a contractor changes hands it robs them of this security,” said Newark Security Officer Marilyn Mars. “We need laws that protect workers particularly in times like the pandemic or a state of emergency.”
At least 25 jurisdictions have adopted worker retention policies nationwide. In New Jersey, Newark, and Hoboken have already adopted similar policies.
Now, the Worker Retention bill heads to Governor Phil Murphy’s desk for his signature.