Cuomo Moves to Raise Minimum Wage to $15 for State Workers

The protests were one of many that took place around the country, from groups of workers who are demanding a bump in minimum wage. 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”. So voters may be asked several times for their say on what the minimum wage should be.

The first 1,000 to see raises will be office assistants, custodial workers and lifeguards in NY City.

Hundreds of people rallied in NY, Washington and Chicago as part of the union-backed Fight for US$15 campaign. According to the governor’s office, the minimum wage increase will apply to approximately 10,000 employees in executive agencies, the state Legislature, the judiciary and other agencies, including the Department of Law and the state comptroller’s office. “I am proud of what we continue to accomplish, because New Yorkers deserve nothing less”. Williams previously worked at Walmart for seven years and was laid off at a time when his pay was $12.75 an hour. Tuesday’s National Day of Action will be exactly one year from the 2016 Presidential Election Day.

“I commend the governor, ” Miner said. “I think that would start to make more financial sense, even in the lower volume stores we have around here”.

Minimum wage workers with different native languages come together for Fight for 15 movement.

A few participants in the early-morning rally said they were demonstrating to press for $15-an-hour wages for all low-wage Californians even though they, themselves, are already scheduled to get it in Los Angeles. Better wages mean a stronger economy in NY, sustainable jobs, growing families and prospering communities.

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.

The wage increase was praised by public-sector labor leaders who Cuomo has differed with, and the $15 target will be used as a base in the labor contract negotiations.

An estimated 64 million Americans are paid less than $15 an hour, and political analysts say they could make up a powerful voting bloc.