In a major win for the staffing industry, the New Jersey State Senate chose earlier this week not to vote on Gov. Murphy’s conditional veto of A 1474, an onerous bill that would make it harder for staffing agencies to do business in the Garden State. ASA; the New Jersey Staffing Alliance, an ASA-affiliated chapter; and staffing agencies engaged in intense advocacy, resulting in the bill being pulled from consideration because the senate did not have enough favorable votes for passage.
A 1474, which applies to construction, light industrial, and other workers—but not professional or clerical workers—would
- Require staffing agencies to pay at least the average pay and cost equivalent of benefits received by client employees performing the same or substantially similar work
- Impose a limitation on conversion fees
- Prohibit agencies from charging a fee for providing transportation
ASA and NJSA engaged in a prolonged grassroots campaign, explaining to senators why the bill is bad for workers and the staffing industry, and were successful in persuading one senator to introduce an alternative, more palatable, bill.
On Oct. 6, Sen. Holly Schepisi introduced S 3182. Modeled after the Massachusetts Temporary Worker Right to Know law, the legislation contains several provisions found in A 1547 that protect temporary employees but presents fewer operational issues for staffing agencies.
The senate’s next scheduled voting session is Monday, Nov. 21, when the body could take up A 1474. Between now and then, ASA and NJSA will continue to meet with senators and urge them to support S 3182 as a compromise bill. ASA also will be reaching out to staffing agencies doing business in New Jersey to ask them to contact their state senators to support S 3182.
The post ASA, NJSA Advocacy Delays Antistaffing Legislation Vote appeared first on American Staffing Association.