I know Laura Clawson wrote an excellent piece about the New York State’s Wage Board’s decision to support raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour for fast food workers. I suggest you read it if you haven’t already.
But there is more to the story of how a group of dedicated activists and social justice organizations fought for the establishment by Governor Andrew Cuomo of a Fast Food Wage Board. A very high percentage of people of color – roughly 43% – work at these fast food jobs across the United States. The majority of them are not teenagers. Most of them are between the ages of 25 and 54. Right now they are working for poverty wages. We all need to support this fight. If the minimum wage is raised for any workers in New York it will only add to the pressure across the country to raise the minimum wage for all people in every state.
The wage board is backing a gradual phase-in of the $15 minimum wage for fast food workers, but it’s not a done deal by any means. There’s a lot more to be done before fast food workers actually obtain a higher wage for their hard work. Specifically, the acting Commissioner of Labor, Mario Musolino, supposedly has the final say on whether the board’s recommendations are accepted or rejected, in whole or part.
The board is expected to meet on Monday to approve its report, which will be published and then followed by a 15-day public comment period. Based on those comments, the state labor commissioner can decide to accept, reject or modify the board’s recommendations and file a wage order. The final decision, or order, is subject to additional regulations.
So, the first part of the battle has been won: convincing the wage board to increase the minimum wage for fast food workers, but the second part of the battle is yet to be joined. From Jim Beardon of Metro Justice in Rochester, NY, one of the many organizations in New York that has been pushing the Governor to do the right thing for workers:
Fast food workers and their allies have won! Through bold action, speaking out publicly, and striking they pushed Governor Cuomo to assemble the wage board. This wage board decided yesterday to: raise the minimum wage for fast-food workers in New York City from its current level of $8.75 to $15 by 2018. For fast-food workers in the rest of the state, the minimum wage would rise to $15 by 2021. This is a faster raise in wages than has been seen in nearly any union fights in recent years. In the next few years, we will ensure that 180,000 jobs in the state are no longer poverty jobs.
Metro Justice members, all your energy, all of those times you showed up with us, and dues you’ve paid over the year have helped make this happen. In a single year, these raises will add over $1 Billion dollars into the pockets of some of the poorest residents of our state.
Fast food workers, you led this fight fearlessly. You chanted phrases like: “Hold the burgers, hold the fries–we want our wages super sized!” or “When we fight, we win! We also heard you chant with loud voices, fearless souls, and tired bodies: “We work, we sweat–put fifteen in my check!” This moment happened because of you and you should be proud for every second of it!
The fight isn’t quite over. This recommendation begins a 15 day public comment period. In the coming days, we’ll make sure to inform all of you about the most effective ways to make public comment and ensure that we really win $15.
That sounds optimistic, and well it should. No one knew what the members of the wage board would decide. That they accepted an increase is a major victory, but it is far from guaranteeing the right to a higher minimum wage in New York for these workers. Comments in support of the minimum wage increase will be critical. From the NY Department of Labor’s press release:
According to statute, the Wage Board must now finalize and submit a report to Acting State Labor Commissioner Mario J. Musolino. The Board is scheduled to meet on Monday, July 27, to approve its report. The details of this meeting will be announced soon.
The Board’s Report and Recommendations will then be published and followed by a 15-day public comment period. Comments will be accepted online and by mail.
Based on those comments, the commissioner may accept, reject or modify the board’s recommendations and file a wage order. The wage order must be filed within 45 days once the report is filed. The order is then subject to an additional regulatory process.
Every person in New York state who supports a living wage for workers needs to step up. As soon as I have information on the dates when New York residents can make comments and how to make them online, I will post that information here, as those 15 days will be critical.
Ultimately, the decision in New York will be made by Governor Andrew Cuomo. The more people who comment favorably in support of the boards’ recommendation to increase the minimum wage, the better. Stay tuned.
