NY Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced an executive order to raise the minimum wage of state workers to $15 an hour over the next few years. That’s a similar timeline to the other group Cuomo has overseen a wage increase for – chain fast-food workers.
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The $15 an hour wage would be phased in through 2018 in NY City and then by 2021 statewide, Cuomo’s office said. Cuomo said, adding, “I don’t want to get into a situation where I pick select groups of workers becuase that’s problematic and I don’t believe there’s a rationale for that”. “Of course the Mayor will continue to fight to ensure all workers, across every industry, make a wage on which their families can live”. “This is about basic fairness and basic justice”, he said of the push to raise the minimum wage both in NY State and across the country.
From the Wendy’s in Warwick to the streets of NY and Chicago, a wave of protests as thousands of low-wage workers hit the streets hoping to have their voices heard. “We have to start closing the gap”.
Read is also a shop owner who would be hit by a higher minimum wage.
Even in right-to-work Texas, where it is illegal for a municipality to establish a minimum wage, a campaign is moving forward to create a living wage for city employees in San Antonio. State workers outside the city will also experience wage hikes gradually and would get to $15 an hour by the end of 2021.
“What you are doing and workers all over the United States are doing, you are having a profound impact”, Sanders said.
Lorry says that for small businesses like his, a higher wage wouldn’t benefit all workers and could force many out of a job.
An effort to raise it to $13 an hour recently stalled in the state Assembly.
Coming exactly one year before Election Day 2016, Tuesday’s Fight for $15 protests kicked off an effort to mobilize the 64 million USA workers who earn less than that to register and vote.
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“I’m fighting for a better life and for a better future”, he said. Cuomo’s announcement made Letitia A. James, city’s public advocate, to call for a $15 minimum wage for the city employees. “In fact, what I am hearing is that what we are simply asking for is an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work”.
