NJ Senate votes to raise minimum wage to $15 an hour

TRENTON — The state Senate voted to send legislation that raises the state's minimum wage to $15 over the next five years to Gov. Chris Christie.

The Democrat-led Senate voted 21-18 on Thursday to advance the measure that raises the current $8.38 wage to $10.10 on Jan. 1.

The measure would raise the wage by $1.25 a year or $1 plus and adjustment for inflation, whichever is greater, the following four years.

Labor unions, progressive advocacy groups and Democrats have swarmed the statehouse to push for the measure.

Business groups object to the change arguing it inflates the cost of goods and labor.

New Jersey raised the wage in 2013 from $7.25 an hour to $8.25 an hour and indexing the wage to inflation

Christie, a Republican, has criticized the legislation.