After three years of strikes by fast-food workers, the New York State Wage Board recommended on Wednesday that the minimum wage should increase to $15 an hour for employees of fast-food restaurants.
A panel appointed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recommended that the state's minimum wage for fast-food workers should gradually increase from the current $8.75 to $15 an hour by 2020.
Great day today! Big crowd, awesome recommendation from the wage board. We're on our way to $15! #FightFor15 pic.twitter.com/swGlq6o5Pu
— Fast Food Forward (@FastFoodForward)
July 22, 2015
The move comes after three years of strikes by New York City fast-food workers to increase the minimum wage, a demand that was followed in Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles where organizers succeeded in achieving their goal.
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The New York governor convened a three-man board to consider the wage increase last year, which includes the state’s labor commissioner that has the power to pass the popular demand.
An estimated 180,000 people are employed in the fast-food industry in the state of New York.