AG James joins unions calling for boosting New York’s minimum wage in budget

ALBANY — Attorney General Letitia James rallied with union workers Monday to call on Gov. Hochul and lawmakers to include a hefty increase to New York’s minimum wage in the state budget.

James joined the chorus of voices calling for the inclusion of the Raise the Wage Act in the already-late budget. The bill would increase the state’s minimum wage to $21.25 over the next three years, and then adjust it each year going forward for inflation.

“This is an inflection point in New York State and all across this nation,” James told workers outside of City Hall in Manhattan. “It is time we pay you what you deserve. It is time we move the bill, it is time we address the felt needs of New Yorkers and members of unions.”

Hochul in her $227 billion executive budget proposal released earlier this year put forth a plan that would tie the state’s minimum wage to inflation, but it includes a cap on how much wages can increase each year.

Labor leaders and progressive lawmakers are calling for more to be done as inflation has skyrocketed over the past year in the wake of supply chain issues linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and prices for basic goods continue to climb.

Inflation in the U.S. hit a new 40-year high last summer.

Members of the Service Employees International Union, Local 32BJ, Communications Workers of America, City Council members and other joined James to rally for higher wages.

Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Queens), the main sponsor of the Raise the Wage Act and chair of the Senate Labor Committee, applauded James for backing the bill and calling for it to be bundled into the budget.

“The labor movement knows we all do better when we all do better,” the senator tweeted.

In New York City, minimum wage workers are currently paid $15 an hour, while the rest of the state is paid $14.20.

California and Washington both have minimum hourly wages over $15.50 and several cities across the country already index pay increases to inflation. The federal minimum wage in the U.S. has remained at $7.25 per hour since 2009.

Ramos’ plan would increase the minimum wage in the five boroughs by $2.25 next year and reach $21.25 in 2026. Upstate would see smaller increases and later incremental hikes statewide would be tied to inflation.

The state budget, which was due on April 1, is already over a week late. The Dem-led Legislature approved a temporary stopgap measure on Monday as Hochul and legislative leaders attempt to work out differences over bail and housing proposals.