Growing Campaign to Support Governor in
Push to Raise Minimum Wage to $15 Statewide
Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced that 30
notable civil rights groups and prominent community leaders have joined
the Mario Cuomo Campaign for Economic Justice, a statewide initiative
aimed building support for a $15 minimum wage for all workers in New
York State. The announcement came at the Fifth Annual Amsterdam News
Labor Breakfast where Governor Cuomo was presented with the outlet's
Labor Champion Award.
“Raising the minimum wage isn't just a matter of economics, it’s a matter of civil rights," Governor Cuomo said. "The current minimum wage has trapped millions of hard working New Yorkers in poverty and has prevented them from finding a way out of it. This vicious cycle has left them at a permanent disadvantage and the time for change is now."
Mario Cuomo was a fighter for workers’ rights before, during and following his three terms as Governor of New York State. He successfully increased the minimum wage twice while in office, amounting to a total increase of 28 percent. He established the Garment Workers Strike Force to protect the rights of workers and eliminate sweatshops once and for all in the state. And he established the nation’s first joint State/union health care committee to contain raising health care costs – an effort that helped workers save thousands of dollars on care. The Mario Cuomo Economic Justice Campaign will continue this legacy of fighting for the most vulnerable by pushing to raise New York’s minimum wage in 2016, with a goal of $15 an hour.
A bill will be introduced in the next legislative session for a statewide $15 minimum wage. More information is available here.
The organizations and prominent leaders joining the Mario Cuomo Campaign for Economic Justice today include:
“Raising the minimum wage isn't just a matter of economics, it’s a matter of civil rights," Governor Cuomo said. "The current minimum wage has trapped millions of hard working New Yorkers in poverty and has prevented them from finding a way out of it. This vicious cycle has left them at a permanent disadvantage and the time for change is now."
Mario Cuomo was a fighter for workers’ rights before, during and following his three terms as Governor of New York State. He successfully increased the minimum wage twice while in office, amounting to a total increase of 28 percent. He established the Garment Workers Strike Force to protect the rights of workers and eliminate sweatshops once and for all in the state. And he established the nation’s first joint State/union health care committee to contain raising health care costs – an effort that helped workers save thousands of dollars on care. The Mario Cuomo Economic Justice Campaign will continue this legacy of fighting for the most vulnerable by pushing to raise New York’s minimum wage in 2016, with a goal of $15 an hour.
A bill will be introduced in the next legislative session for a statewide $15 minimum wage. More information is available here.
The organizations and prominent leaders joining the Mario Cuomo Campaign for Economic Justice today include:
Organizations
- · AARP New York
· Anti-Defamation League
· Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
· Asian Americans for Equality
· Center for Popular Democracy
· Children's Defense Fund New York
· Demos
· Empire State Pride Agenda
· Hispanic Federation
· Housing Works
· Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA)
· Latino Justice PRLDEF
· League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
· NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
· NAACP New York State Conference
· National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum
· National Employment Law Project
· National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
· National Women's Law Center
· New York Civil Liberties Union
· New York Immigration Coalition
· New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
· New York Urban League
· Southern Poverty Law Center
· United Way of New York City
· YWCA of the City of New York
- · David N. Dinkins, 106th Mayor, City of New York
· Dolores Huerta, renowned labor leader and civil rights activist
· Ben Jealous, former President and CEO of NAACP
· Bertha Lewis, Founder and President of The Black Institute
David N. Dinkins, 106th Mayor, City of New York, said:
"Governor Cuomo has shown leadership in his actions to make New York
the first state to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. I am proud to
add my support as he calls upon the state legislature to advance these
efforts to improve livelihoods for millions of hardworking New Yorkers.
This issue is about basic economic fairness and social justice and is
one of the many ways that New York must continue to lead the nation.
Both the Senate and Assembly should make a $15 minimum wage a reality
next year."
Ben Jealous, civic leader and former President and CEO of the NAACP, said: “A fair increase in the minimum wage is long overdue. For too long workers have been driven deeper into poverty due to a wage that cannot support their minimal needs. Raising the minimum wage to $15 would have an enormous impact on the thousands of workers who depend on it to support their families and I applaud Governor Cuomo’s bold vision to make this a reality.”
Hazel N. Dukes, President of the NYS Conference of NAACP, said: "The NAACP New York State Conference supports Governor Cuomo's efforts to raise the minimum wage. We know that this action is not only the right thing to do, but it is the moral thing to do."
Juan Cartagena, President & General Counsel of LatinoJustice PRLDEF, said: “LatinoJustice PRLDEF supports this effort to raise the minimum wage for low-wage workers many of whom in New York are Latino workers. This helps the employees, their families and the economy and places the spotlight deservedly on the failure of the private sector to alleviate the pressing conditions of the working poor.”
Donna Lieberman, Executive Director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said: “Raising the minimum wage is an important, long overdue step toward making it possible for thousands of hard working New Yorkers to support their families. We should do it without delay.”
Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
Ben Jealous, civic leader and former President and CEO of the NAACP, said: “A fair increase in the minimum wage is long overdue. For too long workers have been driven deeper into poverty due to a wage that cannot support their minimal needs. Raising the minimum wage to $15 would have an enormous impact on the thousands of workers who depend on it to support their families and I applaud Governor Cuomo’s bold vision to make this a reality.”
Hazel N. Dukes, President of the NYS Conference of NAACP, said: "The NAACP New York State Conference supports Governor Cuomo's efforts to raise the minimum wage. We know that this action is not only the right thing to do, but it is the moral thing to do."
Juan Cartagena, President & General Counsel of LatinoJustice PRLDEF, said: “LatinoJustice PRLDEF supports this effort to raise the minimum wage for low-wage workers many of whom in New York are Latino workers. This helps the employees, their families and the economy and places the spotlight deservedly on the failure of the private sector to alleviate the pressing conditions of the working poor.”
Donna Lieberman, Executive Director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said: “Raising the minimum wage is an important, long overdue step toward making it possible for thousands of hard working New Yorkers to support their families. We should do it without delay.”
Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
No comments:
Post a Comment