Community Corner

Bergen County Hikes Minimum Wage To $15

Bergen is the first county in New Jersey to adopt a $15 minimum wage for its full-time workers.

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Full-time county workers are the first in the state to receive a $15 minimum wage.

About 130 workers will be impacted by the move, which union leaders and proponents lauded Tuesday.

"Today we are setting the example, not only for governments in Bergen County and New Jersey, but demonstrating this is a great business decision for the private sector as well," said Freeholder Vice Chairman Tom Sullivan. "It is also the right thing to do."

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Governor-Elect Phil Murphy joined Senate President Steve Sweeney and Speaker Elect Craig Coughlin Monday to announce their unified support for a $15 minimum wage throughout the state.

“Good people are essential to good government, and good managers understand that their employees need to be valued," said County Executive Jim Tedesco. "Employees who put in 40 hours or more every week, in service to their friends and neighbors throughout Bergen County, deserve and have earned a $15 minimum wage. It was important to me that we do this for our workers in time for holidays.”

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Pictured: USUW/IUJAT Local 755 President Joe Gautier, Bergen County Freeholder Germaine Ortiz, Bergen County Freeholder Chair Tracy Zur, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco, Bergen County Freeholder Vice Chair Tom Sullivan, Bergen County Freeholder David Ganz, Bergen County Freeholder Joan Voss, Working Families Director Analilia Mejia/Courtesy of Bergen County Executives Jim Tedesco

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