The New York State Wage Board met Wednesday for the first time on raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour for Workers in the Fast Food Industry.
Governor Cuomo empanelled the Wage Board to investigate Fast Food Wages at a Labor Rally in early May. He said, “If you work full time, you should be able to provide for yourself and your family and move beyond poverty. That is what the minimum wage is all about, but for too many fast food workers in New York today that is simply not the case.”
According to the Labor Department, under NYS law, the Wage Board can make recommendations to raise wages without legislative approval in order to become enacted.
Here's the timeline:The board needs to get back to Acting Labor Commissioner Mussolino in 45 days with recommendations. It will hold 4 public hearings: Buffalo is set for June 5, 2015, NYC June 9, Long Island June 15 and Albany June 22nd.
At these hearings, the public is invited and can present testimony. The Wage Board wants people to pre-register if they can. wageboard@labor.ny.gov. Testimony will be first come and if you’re registered you get preference. The board says written testimony is helpful. Oral presentations will be limited to five minutes. Testimony needs to be provided by June 26th.
While there were no public comments at this first meeting on Varrick Street in downtown Manhattan,Fast Food Workers and Fair Wage Advocates rallied outside,and& they rallied in Albany,Buffalo and Rochester.
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