Progress: A Pay Hike For Minimum Wage Workers In New York?

Gov. Cuomo says a budget deal could add $1.25 to hourly employees

New York state’s leaders have agreed on a $135 million budget deal that raises the minimum wage. The state’s minimum wage, now at $7.25 an hour, would rise to $9 an hour by 2015. Gov. Andrew Cuomo says there may be minor changes to the budget bill before it is brought to a vote on Saturday or Sunday. Raising the minimum wag is certainly a tip of the hat to President Obama’s push to do the same on the federal level. This is certainly welcomed news for New York City’s retail and fast food workers, who began striking last year to demand more pay and better benefits. Truth is, some are hoping for a pay hike even larger than that. At $9 an hour, that’s still living below the poverty line. (Reuters)

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