TRENTON, N.J. — A bill requiring 500,000 public workers in New Jersey to shoulder a significantly larger share of the costs for their health care and pension benefits and take the issue off the bargaining table has advanced over staunch objections from organized labor.

The vote by the Senate Budget Committee was 9-4.

The full Senate is scheduled to vote next week.

The panel heard more than four hours of testimony Thursday. Union leaders urged Democratic legislators to reject the measure.

More than 2,000 protested outside the Statehouse

The bill legislates health care changes that are typically bargained. It bases contributions to health benefits on employee income. Pension contributions would also rise.