Albany, NY – In response to the New York State Assembly passing a hist minimum wage increase that sets New York on a path to a $15 minimum wage, with automatic increases indexed to inflation, members of the Raise Up New York coalition said:
Mauricio Jimenez, Make the Road New York Workers’ Justice Committee member and Board Member, said: “I’m thrilled that the Assembly has passed a minimum wage increase that puts us on a path to $15 per hour, with higher levels for expensive regions like New York City and Long Island. While large companies’ profits and the cost of living keep going up, workers’ pay has not increased. That’s not right. I work long hard hours at a construction company but only receive a pay of $10 per hour. This is slightly above the minimum wage, but still not nearly enough to survive in this city. I have to pay for train fare to get to and from work. I have to pay rent so that I don’t end up on the street. Workers like me need $15 an hour now, and the Assembly vote is a strong step towards our goal!”
Hector Figueroa, 32BJ president, said: “We congratulate Speaker Heastie and the Assembly for passing this bill and standing up for the hard-working men and women in our state who are struggling to get by on a minimum wage that doesn’t allow them to support their families,” said 32BJ President Hector Figueroa. “The Fight for $15 and a union is growing in New York and across the country. We will keep fighting until we win a living wage and respect for all workers.”
Karen Scharff, Citizen Action of New York executive director, said: “By passing an economy-boosting minimum wage increase today, Speaker Heastie and the Assembly stood with three million low-wage workers in New York who work hard every day but struggle to meet basic needs. From Seattle and San Francisco, to Chicago and the nationwide Fight for $15 movement, momentum is growing for a minimum wage that will lift millions out of poverty. It’s time for New York to get onboard.”
Bill Lipton, New York Working Families state director, said: “This is the type of bold proposal New York’s working families have been waiting for. While other states have moved forward in the fight for an economy that works for all of us and not just the wealthy and the well-connected, New York has been lagging behind. The Assembly’s proposal would fix that and restore New York to it’s rightful place as a national leader in the fight for $15. The billionaire developers and bankers have already gotten their raises.”
Michael Kink, Strong Economy for All Coalition executive director, said: “Lack of wage growth is the biggest problem in the New York economy, and it’s clear today that Speaker Heastie and the Assembly Majority are tackling the problem head on. Labor Committee Chair Titus has put a strong and significant minimum wage increase on the table – now it’s time for the Senate and the Governor to make it into law, so we can lift millions out of poverty and give our local businesses a shot of growth from the bottom up.”
Jessica González-Rojas, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health executive director and All* Above All campaign co-chair, said: “We commend the New York State Assembly for supporting the Fight for $15. It’s time to recognize that low wages make it nearly impossible for many working families to pay for necessities like rent or groceries. For women – who make up a majority of New York’s low wage workers – low wages often mean forgoing your own healthcare to save money for the family. We can do better. No woman should have to choose between putting food on the table and being able to afford reproductive health services or other necessary care.”
Joanna Nadeau, of the Capital District Raise the Wage Coalition, said: “The people of the Capital District have been calling for the state legislature to raise the minimum wage so that working poor are able to meet the basic needs of their families. With high rates of hunger and poverty in our region, New York’s leaders must correct this economic injustice by raising the state minimum wage. The current Assembly bill is a big step in the right direction.”
Rev. Kirk Laubenstein of the Coalition for Economic Justice in Buffalo, said: “We are hopeful that lawmakers will enact into law the minimum wage increase passed today by the Assembly. Workers across the state are badly in need of a livable wage that meets their basic needs. By raising the minimum wage to $15 with indexing, New York’s legislative leaders can ensure workers are paid enough to support their families and provide our communities with an economic boost.”
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