September 14, 2014
By Tara Jessup
New York, NY – Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, joined by Vice President Joseph Biden, on Thursday September 10th, announced a push to make New York the first state in the nation to adopt a $15.00 per hour minimum wage. The Governor’s proposed all-industry minimum wage increase is planned to be phased in to mirror the raising of fast food worker wages to $15.00 per hour.
Raises for all industries will reach $15.00 per hour by December 31, 2018 in New York City and July 1, 2021 for the rest of New York State.
“If you work full time, you shouldn’t have to live in poverty – plain and simple,” said Governor Cuomo. “Raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour will add fairness to our economy and bring dignity and respect to 2.2 million people, many of whom have been forced to live in poverty for too long. My father’s words about helping those left behind in the shining city are not just a dream – they were true when he spoke them, and they still ring true today. We will overcome the skeptics and demonstrate to the American people that we can make this a better place because New York is the state of possibility. We can restore hope and opportunity, and we will do it with a $15 minimum wage that ensures economic justice for all.”
The Governor and Vice President were joined by more than 1,200 workers, community members and advocates at the Javits Center in New York City on September 10th to celebrate the success of the fast food wage board and continue that momentum. In the coming months, the Governor’s administration, with elected officials, business leaders and community members, will bring the push for a $15 minimum wage across the state to build support for a bill to be introduced in the next legislation session.
In 2013, the Governor signed legislation that raised the minimum wage from $7.25 to its current level of $8.75. That legislation included another incremental increase to $9.00 that will take effect by the end of 2015. Additionally, the State Department of Labor empaneled a wage board last July, which led to an increase in wages for tipped workers from $4.90, $5.00 and $5.65 to $7.50 per hour on December 31, 2015.
