The following statement is attributable to the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus:

“The New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus fully supports of the Healthy Terminals Act (S989/A2487) that raises the standards for thousands of New Jersey’s Airport Workers.

As we have learned during this unprecedented pandemic of COVID-19, healthcare is a right that should be afforded to all. The high risk of daily exposure to health ailments for our thousands of airport workers at Newark Liberty International Airport requires that efforts are made for their health as frontline workers. The Healthy Terminals Act would require employers to compensate covered workers with a standard benefits supplemental rate that may be used to purchase healthcare.

The Healthy Terminals Act would grant covered workers additional compensation that can be used to acquire healthcare. This bill would cover approximately 12,400 workers and it would benefit an estimated 10,085 minimum wage workers, many of whom work for subcontracted companies, and many of whom are Black and Brown New Jerseyans. The Healthy Terminals Act will promote racial justice in our state, and will increase health care coverage amongst the communities that have been hardest by COVID-19.

This legislation is compassionate, pragmatic and cost effect promoting health justice. It reduces the burden of public expenditure for healthcare and shifts the burden to private insurance. The public savings to reduced Medicaid and uncompensated care annually are in the millions. Finally, this legislation makes healthcare insurance accessible and affordable to frontline workers most in need at this time.”

With over 175,000 members in 11 states and Washington D.C., including 13,000 in New Jersey, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property services union in the country.
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