New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy joined members of airport workers 32BJ SEIU union at Newark Liberty International Airport as part of what has been the union’s multi-state push to improve industry standards and pay.
“In this day and age, we have to understand how other people are living and how they are making ends meet and the challenges they have,” Murphy said at the event held at the airport’s Terminal B on Thursday. “And I think it’s really easy to look past people and not communicate and put yourself in their shoes.”
She added: “I remember fighting with Phil for the minimum wage to be increased to $15. A lot of people around us were saying, you’re going to put us out of business and this and that. The fact of the matter is you can’t hire anyone at under $15. It’s not dignified, it’s not respectful. We need to make sure everyone is able to participate in our economy.”
Union airport employees earn about $19 an hour, and they are calling for a bump to $25 by 2030. Other demands include paid time off, which is not currently part of their compensation. In 2023, 32BJ airport workers secured the nation’s highest mandated minimum wage of $19 an hour after making the case for their essential role during the pandemic. But employees say that still isn’t a living wage.
“I had to be honest about the expenses, and how everything is going up – food and rent,” said Derrick Stone, an airport worker and member of 32 BJ SEIU. “Everything is going up, except our wages.”
