Governor Andrew Cuomo today signed legislation enacting a statewide $15 minimum wage plan and a 12-week paid family leave policy. The 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 Governor signed these two pieces of legislation immediately prior to attending a 1,000-person victory rally, which included workers, advocates, labor leaders, and elected officials. That rally was held at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City.
“By moving to a $15 statewide minimum wage and enacting the strongest paid family leave policy in the nation, New York is showing the way forward on economic justice,” said Governor Cuomo. “These policies will not only lift up the current generation of low-wage workers and their families, but ensure fairness for future generations and enable them to climb the ladder of opportunity. I am proud to sign these programs into law, because they will ensure a stronger, fairer and brighter future for all New Yorkers.”
President Barack Obama issued the following statement on today's signing.
"I commend Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state of New York for taking the historic step of creating a paid family leave program in the state and raising its minimum wage to support New York’s working families. This action means more parents won't have to choose between their job and caring for their new children. It means more workers can earn a higher wage to help make ends meet. Since I first called on Congress to increase the federal minimum wage in 2013, 18 states and more than 40 cities and counties have acted on their own -- thanks to the strong leadership of elected officials, businesses, and workers who organized and fought so hard for the economic security families deserve. Now Congress needs to act to raise the federal minimum wage and expand access to paid leave for all Americans."
Senate Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeffrey Klein said, “This truly is The Year of the Worker. A victory in the Fight for $15 and Paid Family Leave will make a tremendous difference in the lives of our workforce. I thank Governor Cuomo for bringing these issues to the forefront. New York State put together the best Paid Family Leave policy in the nation. Nobody will ever have to choose between what their heart tells them to do and what their bank account allows them to do. Our minimum wage workforce also gets a raise that they deserve. This is a budget that should make every New Yorker proud.”
Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “New York has always been a progressive leader and we have proven that fact once again with the passage of a higher minimum wage and the strongest paid family leave program in the nation. I commend Governor Cuomo, Speaker Heastie and my Senate Democratic colleagues for their hard work on this year’s State Budget, and look forward to continuing our joint efforts to move New York State forward.”
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, “Today’s victories in raising the minimum wage and paid family leave belong to all of the families across the state and to each of the New Yorkers who are working hard and doing their best to achieve a successful future. The Assembly Majority is proud of the work we have done to make this possible and prouder still of the opportunities that these measures will provide for countless individuals. Today we have secured our place as a national leader and delivered on our promise for a better New York.”
Sources: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the White House, Office of the Press Secretary
No comments:
Post a Comment