Becoming the first state to do so, New York has approved a minimum wage of $15 an hour for fast food workers. The state will gradually increase the minimum hourly wage for workers in the fast food industry to the $15 mark, by first increasing it from the current $8.75/hour to $9/hour next year.
Gov. Andrew Guomo announced at a labor rally with Vice President Joe Biden that his administration formally approved the increase Thursday, reported Fox News. Cuomo said he would now work to pass legislation setting a $15 minimum across all industries, a promise that comes as more cities - but not states - move toward a $15 minimum wage.
"Every working man and woman in the state of New York deserves $15 an hour," the governor told the enthusiastic crowd of union members. "We're not going to stop until we get it done."
So far only a few cities - including Los Angeles and Seattle - have approved a $15 local minimum, though Biden predicted the increase in New York would be the needed catalyst to spur efforts across the country, according to the Associated Press.
"You're going to make every single governor in every single state in America look at themselves. It's going to have a profound impact," he said, noting that he and President Obama still remain committed to raising the federal minimum wage to $12 an hour.
Fast food employees rejoiced at the news, with some of them waving signs saying " We Did It" and "Fight For Fair Pay."
An estimated 135,000 to 200,000 fast food workers and cashiers in New York City will see their hourly wage gradually rise to $15 by the end of 2018, while the rest of the state will see the change by 2021, according to CNN.
On the other hand, fast food restaurant owners are unhappy with both the change and the fact that it was decided upon by a wage board of three unelected members.
"We are disappointed with the decision today to sign off on a recommendation from a wage board that was created to target a single industry and will cause a host of negative unintended consequences," said Melissa Fleischut, president and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association.
