(Newswire.net — July 23, 2015) — Currently, the state minimum wage is $8.75, but was to increase to $9 by the end of the year. Appointed by Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, the New York State Wage Board recommended Wednesday a $15 minimum per hour for fast-food restaurants workers., the Guardian reported.
The recommendation of gradual increase wages until $15 per hour for fast-food workers is according to “Fight for 15” campaign launched by activists who believe fast-food restaurants are earning sufficient money and there is room for increase. Reportedly, a multinational corporation McDonald’s, paid its chief executive more than $7.5 million last year.
It is estimated that by the end of the 2020, workers would receive nearly 70% wages increase.
“I would be able to get my own apartment. Buy my own food. The everyday things that should be automatic,” Jorel Ware, 34, told a local ABC affiliate. “It would help so many people all across the state.”
Given the cost of living in New York City, the wages increase is reasonable, however some fast-food owners believe the sharp increase will affect the costs of menus, saying the industry is being singled out in an inappropriate way.
“We continue to say that we think it’s unfair that they singled out a single segment of our industry,” said Melissa Fleischut, Executive Director of the New York State Restaurant Association.
The New York isn’t first in demands for minimum wages increase. Cities like Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco joined Chicago’s last year decision to increase minimum wages.
According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), responsible for economic forecasting and fiscal policy analysis, the minimum wages increase would lead to the loss up to 200,000 jobs, while “pushing it over $10 couldeliminate 500,000 jobs.”
The actual growth in employment in April 2015 was in part-times jobs, construction and low-wage services, according to the Department of Labor.
The current federal minimum wage stands at $7.25 and has been unchanged since July 2009.
Meanwhile, the “Fight For $15“ activists protests all over the country, saying the primary goal is to lift the floor of poverty for US’s lowest-paid workers, arguing that the policy is “for the common good.”