NY Governor Andrew Cuomo
BUFFALO – Gov. Andrew Cuomo was in Buffalo on Tuesday to begin his public push to increase the state’s minimum wage to $10.50 an hour by 2017.
Speaking out against what he called a “polarization of income like we’ve never seen before” Cuomo made a pitch for his minimum wage plan that he first introduced in January during his budget presentation. If the state legislature approves the increase, minimum wage would go up to $10.50 an hour on Dec. 31, 2016 throughout the state, except for New York City, where it would go to $11.50.
The state last agreed to increase the minimum wage in 2013, with the Legislature and Cuomo approving a phased-in plan that will boost it to $9 an hour at the end of this year. It’s $8.75 an hour now.
Business groups have spoken out against the wage hike, saying it will hurt small businesses, in particular.
Cuomo included his new minimum wage plan as part of his $142 billion budget proposal. The state faces a March 31 deadline to have a spending plan in place.
Last week, the state Department of Labor approved an increase in the minimum wage for tipped workers, such as restaurant servers. At the end of the year, it will increase to $7.50 an hour. That move was praised by service industry workers, but criticized by small business groups, claiming it will result in an increase in the cost of food and other services.
Leave a Reply