Supporters, Detractors Of Wage Increase Weigh In On Possible Wage Boost
The first of four planned public hearings on the issue of New York State’s minimum wage for fast food workers was held Friday in Buffalo, NY, the Syracuse (NY) Post-Standard reported. About 100 people signed up to speak at the hearing before the wage board, which was appointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) after his attempts to get “an across-the-board minimum wage increase failed.” The board’s chair is Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, “a vocal supporter” of a minimum wage increase, the Post-Standard noted. The other two board members are Kevin Ryan, an online business owner, and Mike Fishman, secretary-treasurer of the Service Employees International Union.
Detractors of a proposed increase from the current minimum wage of $8.75 per hour cite a recent Employment Policies Institute survey of Long Island restaurants that found that almost 50% of restaurants might be forced to close if the wage was increased to $15 per hour. Meanwhile, the Albany (NY) Times Union noted that acting Commissioner Mario Musolino has “cited studies showing that 60 percent of fast food workers are part of families that draw public assistance.” Cuomo’s Administration has given “no opinion on the precise wage” increase, but the Times Union said the makeup of the wage board along with “the bulk of comments” at Friday’s public hearing indicate “a noticeable wage hike is likely.”
What Happens Next
The wage board will hold three more public meetings across New York before issuing proposals for wage increases. The Commissioner of Labor would have 45 days to consider and choose whether or not to implement any plan. For now, the fate of a wage hike remains uncertain.
What This Means For Small Businesses
Increased wages would create an enormous burden for small business owners across New York. Governor Cuomo’s anti-business policies are continuing with this latest move to increase wages for fast food workers. Unfortunately, this looks like more business as usual under this Administration.
Additional Reading
NFIB, the AP, and the New York Post previously covered criticism of the proposed wage hike from the fast food industry.
