ALBANY – New York state will gradually raise the minimum wage for fast-food workers to $15 an hour — the first time any state has set the minimum that high.
The New York State Department of Labor formally approved the increase Thursday, a move Governor Andrew Cuomo announced at a labor rally with Vice President Joe Biden.
Cuomo also said he would work to pass legislation setting a $15 minimum for all industries, a promise that comes as more and more cities around the country move toward a $15 minimum wage. The vice president, meanwhile, predicted the $15 wage for fast-food workers would galvanize efforts across the country. He also said he and President Barack Obama remain committed to raising the federal minimum wage to $12 an hour.
The wage increase for fast-food workers in New York will be phased in over three years in New York City and over six years elsewhere in the state. It will apply to some 200,000 employees at large chain restaurants.
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