Cuomo seeks minimum wage boost for state university workers

Gov. Cuomo and some of the state’s most powerful unions will kick off the new year with a massive rally Monday to push for a $15-an-hour statewide minimum wage. “Raising the minimum wage to $15 statewide would be a huge step forward in helping to lift over 2 million New Yorkers out of poverty and begin to deliver on the promise of economic justice for all”, Cuomo’s office said in a statement Sunday. His administration, without legislative authority, previous year pushed through an increase in the minimum wage for fast-food workers.

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“We’re going to go out there from one end of the state to the other and we’re not going to stop until we win and $15 becomes a reality”, Cuomo said at a rally at 1199/SEIU Healthcare Workers East headquarters in Manhattan on Monday. Cuomo has indicated he would be willing to trade a tax cut aimed at businesses, along with a phase-in period, as part of a compromise for the $15 wage.

Speaking at a rally of union workers, as well as state and federal officials, including U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Thomas Perez, the governor noted that a statewide minimum of $15 could raise the pay for 3 million New Yorkers directly and indirectly. “You need two, three, four minimum wage jobs to actually make it”.

Workers such as restaurant servers are paid less than the minimum wage on the assumption that tips will make up the difference. Earlier in 2015, Cuomo expressed skepticism the measure would be approved by the GOP-led Senate after majority Democrats in the Assembly approved their own minimum wage measure.

The increase at the State University of NY system will affect some 28,000 employees when fully phased in during 2021.

Meanwhile, Cuomo has gained allies on the left – who have been suspicious of the governor’s centrist record – through the wage hike campaign.

Fleischut said the tipped-wage increase is hurting restaurants.

In a reference to a tip-adverse character Buscemi played in “Reservoir Dogs” the actor joked, “Mr. Pink doesn’t tip!”