Handing down a victory for restaurant worker rights, the decision to increase the minimum wage for fast food workers to $15 an hour in the state of New York has been upheld by a state oversight board. On Wednesday, the New York Industrial Board of Appeals rejected arguments made by the National Restaurant’s Association that claimed the mandate to increase wages was arbitrary and unfair by focusing on national chain restaurants with 30 or more locations.
Earlier this year in July, after heavy backing by Governor Cuomo, New York’s minimum wage was set to increase to $9 an hour on Dec. 31 for most fast food workers under state law. The conclusion made by the wage board was that current wages were inadequate to meet workers’ basic cost of living. They also added that fast-food chains containing 30 or more restaurants across the country would be better able to adjust to a wage increase for its workers.
Then, in New York City, approximately 200,000 fast-food chain employees will have their minimum wage raised to $10.50 and $9.75 elsewhere. These wages will continue to gradually increase throughout a 3 year period for New York City. In which the annual increments are set to reach $15 by the end of 2018. For the rest of New York State, the minimum wage will reach $15 after six years by July 1, 2021. The National Restaurant Association will continue to fight this ruling of proposed increases and is planning to go to court with renewed commitment to assist the restaurant industry.
The employment attorneys at Fitapelli & Schaffer, LLP are strongly committed to protecting the rights of hard working restaurant workers and other employees. If you are worker in the restaurant industry and feel your pay has not increased accordingly after the wage increase deadlines, contact us in order to discuss your potential rights under these wage changes. For additional information about minimum wage, please call the employment attorneys at Fitapelli & Schaffer, LLP at (212) 300-0375 or visit our website at www.fslawfirm.com.