NY Wage Board Votes to Raise Fast Food Minimum Wage

The New York State Fast Food Wage Board voted unanimously this afternoon to raise the minimum wage to $15 for employees of fast food chains.

The wage hike would be phased in over three years in New York City, and would reach $15 by Dec. 31, 2018. (And by July 1, 2021 for the rest of the state.)

Here’s how the incremental hike would look:

• $10.50 on Dec. 31, 2015,
• $12.00 on Dec. 31, 2016,
• $13.50 on Dec. 31, 2017,
• $15.00 on Dec.31, 2018.

The board defines the term ”fast food chain” to include fast food establishments that are part of chains that have 30 or more locations nationally.

The full text of the motions is available here.

The state Labor Department explains next steps:

According to statute, the Wage Board must now finalize and submit a report to Acting State Labor Commissioner Mario J. Musolino. The Board is scheduled to meet on Monday, July 27, to approve its report. The details of this meeting will be announced soon.

The Board’s Report and Recommendations will then be published and followed by a 15-day public comment period. Comments will be accepted online and by mail.

Based on those comments, the commissioner may accept, reject or modify the board’s recommendations and file a wage order. The wage order must be filed within 45 days once the report is filed. The order is then subject to an additional regulatory process.

PHOTO: Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Twitter