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Minimum Wage Raised in New York State!
Posted on July 22, 2004
If you've watched Struggling to Survive, then you know about the underemployment crisis in Eastern Kentucky. This struggle can be seen throughout the United States including in New York State where the $5.15 is Not Enough campaign has been lobbying the state legislature to raise the minimum wage.
Yesterday, July 21st, the New York State Senate and Assembly voted to raise the minimum wage in the state from $5.15 to $7.15! For those of you who took action through the $5.15 is Not Enough Campaign (linked to on our site), we applaud you for lending your voice to the movement.
However, there is still more work to be done! The raise to $7.15 won't happen fully until January 2007, and some lobbyists argue that this increase will still not be a living wage for New York's working poor. Furthermore, the Federal minimum wage is still at $5.15, allowing many states to maintain this wage rate.
Read more about the New York decision from the New York Times.
Continue to take action for a living wage and better working conditions through 9 to 5.