Care givers in South Plainfield plan to picket Thursday afternoon in a continuing fight for a wage increase.
In this November 2015 file photo, activists at a rally at Jersey City Hall in favor of increasing the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour. SOUTH PLAINFIELD -- Care givers from AristaCare at Cedar Oaks plan to picket Thursday afternoon in a continuing fight for a contract "guaranteeing quality health insurance and a path toward a $15 an hour wage," according to a statement from the 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, which represents the AristaCare employees.
The group plans to gather around 3:30 p.m. at the nursing care and rehabilitation facility located at 1311 Durham Ave., in South Plainfield.
"These are caregivers providing for very vulnerable and sick people, and they should be able to do the same for their own families," said Bryn Lloyd-Bollard, a spokesman for 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, NJ Region.
Thursday is the national day of action in the Fight for $15 movement, and the group will join "thousands across the country, in calling for higher wages and union rights for all," the statement said.
The Fight for $15 movement has been gaining momentum in recent months. Recently, New York and California both raised their state minimum wages to $15.
The Fight for $15 movement launched in New Jersey one year ago.
1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East represents more than 16,000 health care families in the state and more than 400,000 members throughout the East Coast.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.