The group representing the workers, “fight for 15”, is pushing for the federal minimum wage to be increased to 15 dollars an hour.
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He said he’s speeding up the hike in NY City because the cost of living is so much higher.
But Jihad Williamson, a McDonald’s worker who is part of a group called Fight for $15, said the mere fact that Republican candidates were talking about the minimum wage was a victory. GOP leader John Flanagan reacted to Cuomo’s plan to submit legislation to raise the minimum wage for all workers in the state when the new session starts in January. Opponents of raising the wage say it would hurt businesses and result in job losses.
“We made a decision a long time ago that if you work full time you should have a decent lifestyle for you and your family”, Cuomo said.
“Today, Governor Cuomo is proving once again that he is a champion for workers’ rights in NY State”.
“We are restoring the fairness and economic justice that built the American dream and standing up for what’s right”, Cuomo said in a statement. But, it won’t be fully implemented in NY City by 2018 and upstate by 2021. All told, a few 10,000 state employees will be benefited by the governor’s action.
Organizers said strikes are planned for 270 cities exactly one year before the next presidential election.
State Assemblyman Phil Palmesano has budget concerns following Governor Cuomo’s announcement today, saying that if wages are increased from the lower end there will also be pressure to increase wages on the middle and higher end.
Many cities, including Kansas City and St. Louis, have considered proposals to raise the minimum wage.
San Diegans will be able to vote on a minimum wage increase next year.
“Fast-food, home care, child care workers: Your advocacy is changing our country for the better”, tweeted Hillary Clinton. That followed a maneuver his administration pulled off this summer in which it used a wage board to set a raise to the $15-per-hour level for fast food employees – bypassing the state legislature.
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The same question then went to Ben Carson, who said, “People need to be educated on the minimum wage”, before making clear that he needs to be educated on the minimum wage.
