Workers celebrate minimum wage increase, Cuomo assures compliance
Starting Jan. 1, all workers who make under $11 an hour in New York City began to earn a higher wage as part of the Fight for $15 victory earlier this year. The wage increase will affect hundreds of thousands of workers, tens of thousands being health care workers — many of whom provide care for the elderly.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has advised workers to call a new hotline set up by the state labor department if employers do not comply with New York’s new minimum-wage rates. The state has launched 1-888-4-NYSDOL to assist with any issues.
“This increase marks the first step toward New York state having a livable minimum wage,” said 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East President George Gresham. “Some may believe that this raise doesn’t amount to much, but in fact for many of our members, this increase spells the difference between paying their rent and putting food on the table. Thanks to the leadership by Gov. Cuomo, workers in New York are on the road to making a living wage.”