Cuomo to Create $15 Minimum Wage for New York State Workers

Cuomo to Create $15 Minimum Wage for New York State Workers

By JESSE McKINLEY NOV. 10, 2015

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Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in September. He said on Tuesday that he would use executive authority to gradually increase the hourly rate for state workers. CreditAndrew Burton/Getty Images


ALBANY — Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo plans to unilaterally create a $15 minimum wage for all state workers, making New York the first state to set such a high wage for a large group of public employees.

The increase, which Mr. Cuomo will announce on Tuesday, would place New York’s public employees far ahead of other states on minimum wage, and at the vanguard of a national movement to address stagnant wages for tens of millions of American workers.

Using executive authority, Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat, would gradually increase the hourly rate: State workers in New York City would earn $15 an hour by the end of 2018; state workers outside of New York City would also see wages rise, though more slowly, with rates climbing to $15 by the end of 2021. All told, some 10,000 workers would see a bump in pay, according to the governor’s office, with the vast majority of those living upstate or outside the city.

The governor’s action comes on a day when fast-food workers across the country are striking for a uniform $15 hourly wage, a movement that Mr. Cuomo has championed in New York and even as a growing number of cities have acted to raise wages. But Mr. Cuomo’s action is the first time a governor has raised wages to $15 for so many state employees.

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Fast food workers and supporters in Manhattan called for a uniform $15 hourly wage on Tuesday. CreditSpencer Platt/Getty ImagesI

n a statement, Mr. Cuomo framed his decision as part of a larger fight against poverty. It is a theme that he touched on in January after being elected to a second term, and has recently returned to,pushing for a statewide $15 wage for all employees, both public and private.

That idea has faced resistance from Republicans in Albany, and some conservative fiscal groups,who warn it would be disastrous for the state’s economy and job growth.

But on Tuesday, Mr. Cuomo said he would act unilaterally for employees on the state’s payroll.

“I believe that if you work hard and work full time, you should not be condemned to live in poverty,” he said, adding that “families nationwide continue to be left behind by an insufficient minimum wage. And it’s time that changed.”

The job categories affected by the plan include lifeguards, office assistants and custodial staff. Wages in New York City would be raised first, the official said, because of the higher cost of living in New York.

Mr. Cuomo’s action comes on the heels of several other executive actions seemingly meant to appease and please the liberal wing of his party, which has faulted the governor in the past for his working too closely with Republicans, who hold the majority in the State Senate.

In addition to the increase in the minimum wage for fast-food workers in New York — which Mr. Cuomo accomplished in July via a state wage board — Mr. Cuomo has also empowered the state attorney general, Eric T. Schneiderman, to look into police-related killings.

And last month, he expanded protections for transgender people, building on a 1945 state law that barred discrimination on the basis of sex.

An administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the action had not formally been announced said that Mr. Cuomo’s decision was based in part on pending negotiations with two large public-sector unions — Civil Service Employees Association and the New York State Public Employees Federation.

“He wanted this as a baseline at any negotiations,” said the official, about the $15 rate. “And he wanted us to lead by example.”

The governor’s action may also put new emphasis on broader increases in the minimum wage in New York during the coming legislative session that begins in January, the official said.

The governor’s action was hailed by groups that have seen a building momentum for higher pay.

“It shows the power of the movement towards $15 wages,” said Paul Sonn, general counsel at the National Employment Law Project, a nonprofit group based in New York, which advocates for higher wages. “And it shows real leadership from the governor. He’s a smart politician and he’s throwing his weight behind a winning political and economic issue.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/11/ny...e-workers.html

Nationwide Protests Planned In Fight For $15 Per Hour Minimum Wage

Updated: Tue, Nov 10 2015, 11:10 AM | Sinclair Broadcast Group

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WASHINGTON (SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP) — Protests are planned throughout the United States Tuesday to advocate for a higher minimum wage as part of the "Fight for $15" movement.

On its Twitter page, the group "Fight for $15" describes itself as an "international movement of underpaid workers taking a stand against poverty wages." The group aims to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Tuesday's protests, which follow walkouts by low wage and fast food workers, are aimed to take the movement's fight to politicians and were intentionally planned to take place exactly one year prior to the 2016 elections, according to the social impact company.

The protests drew large crowds in cities such as New York, Chicago and Miami. Participants were not limited to fast-food workers; child care, retail and other low-wage workers also partook in the demonstrations.

To "make their political force known," protesters said they would be "culminating outside city halls in towns and cities across the country." A large protest is also planned for the fourth GOP primary debate, which takes place in Milwaukee on Tuesday.

"Fight for $15" has organized similar protests in the past and organizers said Tuesday's activity is expected to be the largest coordinated wage demonstration in U.S. history.

Some political figures have voiced support for the movement.

"Fight for 15" tweeted that local authorities in Southfield, Mich., joined the group's rally and endorsed the movement. At the Pittsburgh strike, Mayor Bill Peduto announced he would be issuing an executive order phasing in a $15 minimum wage for city workers and those on city contracts.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton tweeted her support for the movement's actions early Tuesday morning.

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Hundreds Of LA Workers Protest In Series Of Rallies To Raise Minimum Wage Nationwide

November 10, 2015 11:00 AM

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Hundreds of workers and union activists will hold a series of rallies Tuesday morning as part of a nationwide protest to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

The local protests, which are organized by Service Employees International Union, include fast-food, home-care and child-care workers along with other “underpaid” employees.

The first protest began at 6 a.m., located outside a McDonald’s restaurant in the 100 block of West Manchester Avenue in South Los Angeles.

According to the fast-food chain, wages were increased by one dollar in July over the locally-mandated minimum wage, which affected more than 90,000 employees nationwide.

McDonald’s released a statement that reads in part: “McDonald’s and our independent franchisees support paying our valued employees fair wages aligned with a competitive marketplace. We believe that any minimum wage increase should be implemented over time so that the impact on owners of small and medium-sized businesses, like the ones who own and operate the majority of our restaurants, is manageable.”

At 11 a.m., a second rally was held outside the restaurant’s location in the 600 block of South Alameda.
Following the protest, activists marched to Los Angeles City Hall for a midday strike.

Meanwhile, similar rallies took place across California, Ohio, Florida, New York and Virginia as part of a nationwide call for wage increases and union rights.

According to union officials, more than 60 million Americans — including 3.2 million Californians — are paid less than $15 per hour.

“In an effort to find real solutions to income inequality that go beyond the minimum wage, our industry has and will continue to take steps to provide meaningful opportunity to employees of all ages and backgrounds through apprenticeships, training programs and educational attainment opportunities that will help strengthen and grow our workforce for the future,” said Christin Fernandez, spokeswoman for the National Restaurant Association.

Opponents have argued that raises would force employers to lay off workers or even boost the price of goods and services required to meet increased costs.

Both the city and county of Los Angeles have approved legislation to raise the minimum wage by 2020.

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