Statement from Senate Democratic Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins on the Minimum Wage

“Minimum wage earners throughout New York State continue to struggle to make ends meet and lift themselves and their families out of poverty. Though our lowest paid workers will get a small wage increase today​ they will not reach a scheduled $9.00​ per hour until New Year’s Day 2016. New York​ could and should do better. The Senate Democratic Conference will continue to fight for a real minimum wage increase.​"

Background:

• The minimum wage in New York State before any action was taken by state government in the 2013 budget was $7.25 an hour. This meant that a minimum wage earner’s yearly salary was $15,080.
• The first increase to the minimum wage took place on December 31, 2013 and only provided a $0.75 increase bringing the minimum wage to $8.00 an hour. This means that a minimum wage earner’s yearly salary rose to only $16,640.
• The increase to the state’s minimum wage that will take effect today will bring the minimum wage to $8.75 an hour, which will only result in an annual salary of $18,200.
• The final increase under the half-measure minimum wage increase passed by the State Senate will take effect on December 31, 2015 and will only provide an additional $0.25 per hour to minimum wage earners, bringing their compensation up to $9.00 an hour.
• This will mean that minimum wage earners final yearly salaries, if State government does not act to increase the minimum wage, will be $18,720.