The New Jersey State AFL-CIO this week celebrated a milestone in its campaign to raise the state minimum wage by joining partners and advocates from across the Garden State in a recognition ceremony held in the Senate.

At the opening of the Senate session, Senate President Stephen Sweeney presented the New Jersey State AFL-CIO coalition partners of Working Families United for New Jersey Inc. (WFUNJ) with a resolution in recognition of the work that went into passing the state constitutional amendment by a landslide margin.

Charles Wowkanech, New Jersey federation president, and state federation Secretary-Treasurer Laurel Brennan said in a message to campaign supporters:

The minimum wage campaign proved that when all our communities come together on the right side of an issue, we win.

Despite being outspent by our opponents, we showed that grassroots strength and community engagement and involvement will achieve tremendous success at the ballot box. WFUNJ turned people who thought raising the minimum wage was the right thing to do into voters who said it loud and clear in the voting booth.

All of us who are proud to be part of this coalition are deeply honored by this recognition today.

Read more about the New Jersey State AFL-CIO’s minimum wage victory.

This article was originally printed on AFL-CIO on March 28, 2014.  Reprinted with permission.

About the Author: Jackie Tortora is the blog editor and social media manager at the AFL-CIO.