To prevent full-time workers in some of the city’s largest buildings from being downgraded to part-time, the City Council introduced an ordinance at the April 27 meeting that would establish a minimum number of hours within a workweek that workers must be allowed to work.
The measure would affect building service employees that work in some of the larger buildings in Jersey City.
Councilmembers Richard Boggiano and Michael Yun voted against the ordinance that would set a 30 hour minimum per week, saying government should not interfere with private enterprise.
The ordinance proposed by Council President Rolando Lavaro would help offset locally the national trend by large companies to replace full-time workers with part-time workers in order to avoid paying overtime and in some cases, providing health benefits.
In a corresponding ordinance also introduced on April 27, the city would require new firms taking over service contracts with these buildings to retain previous employees for at least 90 days. This would allow long-time employees to prove themselves.
Not everybody agrees
The Americans for Prosperity, the New Jersey chapter of a well-established national conservative advocacy group, blasted the ordinance.
“Mayor Fulop and the City Council have gone too far this time,” said Americans for Prosperity state director Erica Jedynak. ”They have no right to tell employers how to run their business like this, and it’s time someone called them out for their divisive, bullying tactics.”
Jedynak said the unintended consequence of this ordinance would result in loss of jobs as employers, faced with increased labor costs, would lay off workers.
This is the latest salvo in a national debate over corporations replacing full-time workers with part-timers to reduce overhead.
“Mayor Fulop and the City Council have gone too far this time.” – Erica Jedynak.
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In Hudson County, long-time workers at some of the larger retail stores claim they have been forced to work part time as a result of changes made by management.
Critics of these practices say that large corporations are doing this merely to increase profits, not to overcome rising costs.
While the ordinance would only affect employees for some of the largest buildings in Jersey City, it sets the tone for a political clash as Jersey City joins a handful of other cities nationwide to impose such rules.
Some employees plead their case
More than 20 workers and union organizers that represent service workers urged the council to move ahead with the ordinance.
Chris Amato, a security guard for a Hudson Street building for more than eight years, said as a part time employee he struggled to make enough to live, and did not get benefits.
“The money we make, we spend in the local economy,” he said.
Fanny Gramajo said she works two part time jobs as an office cleaner.
“I three children and I need money to pay food and rent,” she said. “I lost my job when a new company took over and refused to hire me and other long time janitors. I worked there ten years. Others worked there more than 20 years.”
After two years and a protest by the local union, she said she was rehired. She said if the ordinance requiring the new company to retain workers for 90 days had been in place, she and others would have to prove their value to the new employees.”
Sara Culliwane said the Jersey City poverty rate is higher than the national average.
“Employees have all the power,” she said. “Many people have to work two and three jobs. Some are working more than 60 hours a week and because they are part time, they receive no overtime.”
Analilia Mejia, director of New Jersey Working Families, praised the council, saying that Jersey City has been on the forefront of supporting workers rights.
“The one percent (wealthy) has rebounded after the 2008 recession,” she said, “the poor have not. Some workers have to work long hours with no benefits.”
She said these ordinances will have a positive impact on the local economy.
“Americans for Prosperity empathizes with all families who are struggling to get by here in New Jersey. And we understand that our state is becoming more and more affordable for many lower- and middle-class families,” said Jedynak. ”But if we really care about low-income families and giving them a chance at a better life, then let’s start by addressing the root causes of what’s limiting economic opportunities in our state—our crushing tax burden and overbearing state government.”
She said people need to get past this kind of divisive politics which pits honest employers against their workers.
“We need to move beyond the false promise that another government mandate is all it takes to guarantee someone happiness, a high-paying job or a ‘living wage,’” said Jedynak. “Instead, we should be focused on pursuing a positive agenda that expands economic opportunity and makes it easier for all of us to achieve the American dream here in New Jersey.”
City takes lead on this issue
The ordinance continues a series of actions the city has taken in regards to employee rights.
With Jersey City as the fastest growing city in New Jersey seeing a number of major companies relocating to its business district, the administration seems to be setting a tone to support workers and other smaller businesses that might be edged out without governmental intervention.
Last year, the city passed an ordinance that limited the number of national retail chains opening within some redevelopment zones.
Local officials said many of the buildings affected by the two ordinances have tax abatements with the city, which could give the city the ability to get these companies to comply with ordinances such as this.
Jersey City has also introduced a number of similar ordinances concerning living wages. But until these, most of the changes affected employees hired by the city or those who do business with the city. But these latest ordinances are mostly focused on contractors who are hired by large buildings to provide services, contractors who might seek to trim their own costs by downsizing jobs from full time to part time.
While Ward F Councilwoman Diane Coleman said she had concerns with these ordinances, she also said that she needed to support workers.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.