Senate panel clears pay hike for janitors in state buildings

BY DUNSTAN McNICHOL

Star-Ledger Staff

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Published: December 2, 2005

A bill that would potentially double the wages of the janitors who clean the New Jersey Statehouse and other state government buildings won unanimous endorsement yesterday from the Senate Labor Committee.

The bill (S2702) would require businesses that land the contracts to clean state office buildings to pay their workers the prevailing federal wage for janitorial services, currently about $13 an hour. Contractors also would have to offer health benefits.

Supporters say that under current standards, companies that might want to pay their workers more than minimum wage cannot compete for state work against companies that keep worker pay low.

"State taxpayers should not be subsidizing poverty wages," said Kevin Brown, New Jersey district chairman with the Service Employees International Union, chief backers of the proposal.

Estuardo Lopez, 27, a Guatemalan immigrant who has cleaned floors at the Trenton headquarters of the Department of Community Affairs for about a year, said the higher pay would offer him the chance to quit his second job at a tire plant, earn a degree and resume a career in accounting.

Currently, Lopez said, he is paid $6.15 an hour for his work at the DCA building and must share a Trenton apartment with four co- workers to make ends meet.

"This is my reality, and it is the reality of hundreds of people who clean state buildings across New Jersey," he told lawmakers in a Spanish-language presentation.

Union officials estimate the measure would boost pay for about 500 workers.

They say the added expense to the state would be offset by savings in public health programs and other subsidies the workers currently qualify for because of their low pay.

The committee approved the measure 4-0 yesterday. An identical measure is awaiting committee consideration in the Assembly.

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