Albany, Saratoga & Troy Labor Councils, AFL-CIO, Support Raising NYS Minimum Wage

ALBANY, NY (06/21/2012)(readMedia)-- A Resolution of the Albany County Central Federation of Labor, Saratoga Area Labor Council and the Troy Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO, expressing support for increasing the New York State minimum wage

Whereas, New York State's current minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, but the Hunger Action Network of New York State reports that to provide an income equal to the federal poverty level of $18,530 for a family of three would require $8.90 per hour;

Whereas, If the minimum wage had kept pace with inflation over the last 40 years, it would be about $10.80 per hour today;

Whereas, 18 states have higher minimum wages than New York State;

Whereas, Data and calculations presented by the Fiscal Policy Institute demonstrate that raising New York State's minimum wage to $8.50 per hour will not increase unemployment, will benefit about one million New York State workers, and will not affect eligibility for Family Health Plus for the overwhelming majority of low-wage workers in NYS;

Whereas, $8.50 per hour is not a living wage but would at least provide an improvement over the present inadequate minimum wage;

Whereas, the Assembly passed a bill to increase the minimum wage to $8.50 per hour and to index it to inflation, but Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos refuses to allow a vote on this proposal in the State Senate;

Whereas, Governor Andrew Cuomo claims to support increasing the minimum wage but has abandoned efforts to do so, citing the Senate leadership's opposition;

Whereas, Union workers earning wages at levels above the minimum recognize that an injury to one is an injury to all;

Now, therefore, be it resolved that: The Albany County Central Federation of Labor, Saratoga Area Labor Council and the Troy Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO, urges Senator Skelos to stop opposing an increase in the minimum wage, bring the legislation to a vote in the Senate, and join with the Assembly in raising the New York State minimum wage to $8.50 per hour with future increases indexed to inflation; and

Be it further resolved that: The Albany County Central Federation of Labor, Saratoga Area Labor Council and the Troy Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO, urges Governor Cuomo to take appropriate measures to ensure that the minimum wage is raised in the immediate future.

Be it further resolved that: This resolution will be sent to Senator Skelos, Governor Cuomo, Senator Neil Breslin, and Seantor Roy McDonald and forwarded to the Capital District Area Labor Federation for additional distribution.