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Governor Cuomo Launches New Public Awareness Campaign Highlighting Minimum Wage Increase

Written by Long Island News & PR  |  29. December 2016

Albany, NY - December 29, 2016 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the launch of a new public awareness campaign reminding New Yorkers that the first increase to the minimum wage will go into effect on December 31, 2016. Earlier this year, Governor Cuomo signed landmark legislation making New York the first state in the nation to enact a $15 minimum wage.

The ads will run in both English and Spanish and be featured on television stations across the state. Minimum wage workers who do not receive their raise by December 31, 2016 should call 1-888-4-NYSDOL to report their employers.

The campaign marks the first benchmark of the phase-in schedule for the minimum wage increase, which will ultimately reach $15 an hour and impact more than 2 million workers in all industries across the state.

"No one who works full-time should be condemned to a life of poverty and that's why New York took action to raise the wage and provide the opportunity of a decent life to millions of hard working New Yorkers," Governor Cuomo said. "As we reach this milestone for a more fair and a more just New York, we are reminding workers they are owed a fair day's pay for a fair day's work and this administration will work to ensure they receive the wage increase to which they are entitled."

The two 30-second public service announcements remind New Yorkers that all minimum wage workers across the state will receive a raise on December 31, and educate them about the steps they should take if they do not receive their raises. The New York State Department of Labor has established a hotline (1-888-4-NYSDOL) where minimum wage workers can call to report any employers who do not comply with the phase-in schedule.

$15 Minimum Wage Phase-in
The $15 minimum wage legislation was passed as part of the 2016-17 state budget, and marks a major accomplishment in the Governor’s efforts to restore economic justice and fairness to working families in New York State. The phase-in schedule on a regional basis is as follows:

  • For workers in New York City employed by large businesses (those with at least 11 employees), the minimum wage will rise to $11 at the end of 2016, then another $2 each year after, reaching $15 on 12/31/2018.
  • For workers in New York City employed by small businesses (those with 10 employees or fewer), the minimum wage will rise to $10.50 by the end of 2016, then another $1.50 each year after, reaching $15 on 12/31/2019
  • For workers in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties, the minimum wage will increase to $10 at the end of 2016, then $1 each year after, reaching $15 on 12/31/2021.
  • For workers in the rest of the state, the minimum wage will increase to $9.70 at the end of 2016, then another .70 each year after until reaching $12.50 on 12/31/2020 – after which the minimum wage will continue to increase to $15 on an indexed schedule to be set by the Director of the Division of Budget in consultation with the Department of Labor.

It is estimated that more than 2 million people will be affected by the increases in the minimum wage. A regional breakdown of the number of workers earning below $15 is available below:

    Region
    Total Earning Below $15
    Capital Region
    134,319
    Central NY
    91,790
    Finger Lakes
    154,765
    Hudson Valley
    261,452
    Long Island
    355,514
    Mohawk Valley
    50,929
    North Country
    40,387
    Southern Tier
    71,888
    Western NY
    174,101
    New York City
    861,895
    Total
    2,197,040

More information is available at www.ny.gov/minimumwage.

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