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hrmjustin

(71,265 posts)
Mon Jun 23, 2014, 02:14 PM Jun 2014

Minimum wage increase and indexing fails in final days

By Luke Parsnow

Just days before legislative session ended, around 400 fast food employees and other low-wage workers and advocates occupied the Million Dollar Staircase, Senate lobby and leadership offices in the Capitol to urge the Senate and Assembly to pass (A.8343-a/S.6518-a), legislation that would have raised the state minimum wage to $10.10.

"We all know that that the goal of the minimum wage is to enable average New Yorkers to be able to afford decent shelter, food for their children or themselves, and to provide them the possibility of meeting life's other major needs," said Sen. Kevin Parker, D-Brooklyn. "I am pleased today therefore to join my colleagues, New York's working families, unions and other important stakeholders in calling for an increase in the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour, with the opportunity for high-cost municipalities to adjust the wage locally to fit each region's needs."

"When I set foot in the Capitol today, I heard a little sound. I heard the roar of your voices," said Rev. Frances W. Rosenau, one of the speakers at the rally.

"When I heard that roar, it got louder and louder and I went up the stairs to hear your voices being raised for all New York to hear, being raised for the divine to hear, being raised for the legislators to hear. Our voices have been raised already and together we can say that this very week, the wage will also be raised."

http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2014-06-23-88373.113122-Minimum-wage-increase-and-indexing-fails-in-final-days.html

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