New York City Council passes a resolution in support of Ramos/Joyner Legislation to raise and index the minimum wage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 7th, 2022

CONTACT: Astrid Aune, aaune@nysenate.gov, 530-400-0509

New York City, NY - During the Council’s Stated Meeting on Wednesday afternoon, the Council passed Res 0310 sponsored by Councilmember Carmen de la Rosa, calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and Governor Hochul to sign the Raise the Wage Act - S3062D/A7503 (Ramos/Joyner) in the upcoming legislative session. Sponsored by the Senate and Assembly chairs respectively, the Raise the Wage Act will raise the minimum wage to $21.25 by 2026, then index the wage every following year to ensure it keeps pace with productivity and the cost of living.

“As the cost of living continues to rise, our working families are feeling the negative effects of not being able to pay for basic necessities,” said Chair of the Civil Service and Labor Committee, Council Member Carmen De La Rosa. “The minimum wage has not changed significantly nor has it truly reflected the needs of our working community for far too long. This bill and resolution call for the much-needed increased pay equity and protections that New Yorkers need to sustain a dignified life in our state.”

With the support of Speaker Adrienne Adams and cosponsored by Councilmembers Hanif, Hudson, Brewer, Joseph, Sanchez, Won, Gutierrez, Brannan, Farias, Caban, Aviles, Brooks-Powers, Louis, and Restler, the resolution passed by a 46-6 split, with Councilmembers Ariola, Borelli, Carr, Holden, Paladino, and Vernikov voting in the negative.

“I am thrilled that New York City’s elected body has decisively thrown its support behind our efforts to raise the wage. New York City is the birthplace of the Fight for Fifteen, and while we were once leaders in the nation on this issue, we have now fallen behind, said State Senator Jessica Ramos (D, WF - SD-13). This coming session, the legislature and the governor have an incredible opportunity to be responsive to the crunch that working-class New Yorkers are feeling from the rising costs of rent, groceries, and utilities. With this legislation, 2 million workers will immediately get a raise, a quarter of whom are parents of young children. People will get money in their pockets to spend at local businesses, and the strain of poverty that leads people to desperation will lift off our streets. I would like to thank Speaker Adams for her support in moving this resolution. New York City has made its position clear, now it’s time for Albany to finish the job.”

“The family budgets of New York’s working families are being squeezed to an unprecedented degree and working families urgently need a minimum wage that protects them against the ravages of rising prices,” Assemblywoman Latoya Joyner (D - AD-77), chair of the Assembly Labor Committee, said. “The Raise the Wage Act will enable working families to regain lost purchasing power while strengthening the local economy in my Bronx community and communities throughout New York.” 

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BACKGROUND

The Raise the Wage Act S3062D/A7503 (Ramos/Joyner) is backed by the Raise Up NY - a coalition of workers, labor, community, and responsible businesses—including ALIGN-NY, Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, Churches United for Fair Housing, Citizen Action NY, Community Voices Heard, Communications Workers of America District 1, Construction and General Building Laborers Local 79, Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Network, Indivisible Nation Brooklyn, Jews for Racial & Economic Justice, Legal Aid NYC, Legal Momentum: The Women’s Legal Defense and Education Fund, Long Island Jobs with Justice, Make the Road NY, the National Employment Law Project, New School Center for NYC Affairs, New York Communities for Change, NY Caring Majority: Fair Pay for Home Care, Partnership for the Public Good, Retail Action Project, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, SEIU 32BJ, the Strong Economy for All Coalition, Tompkins County Workers’ Center, UAW Region 9A, WNYCOSH, Workers’ Center of Central New York, Worker Justice Center of NY, Workers United NY NJ Regional Joint Board, and 1199SEIU