More than one million workers across New York will be getting raises this New Year’s Eve, as the state minimum wage is set to increase from $8 an hour to $8.75. WBFO’s Avery Schneider talked with some Western New York residents to get their take on the hike.
That 75-cent increase is a nine percent rise and an extra $1,500 a year in the salary of those fortunate enough to pick up a 40-hour work week. The question: is it enough? If you ask Julian Love, an aspiring musician and dancer from the City of Buffalo, it isn’t. Love used to work at a Wendy’s fast food restaurant for $8.50 an hour.
“Well I just fought for $15, so I still think it should go up to $15, not just a quarter. Because people need to survive and provide for their family,” said Love.
Love is part of the movement that rallied for a near doubling of the base wage earlier this month outside fast food restaurants on Main Street. He admits the pending 75-cents-an-hour extra might be worthwhile for some people. And though he says he doesn’t think it would be for him, it does change his attitude in some respects towards his former job.
“I’d probably go back and work a little more,” Love said.
The end-of year pay raise won’t impact tipped workers, whose minimum continues to be set at $5 an hour. But a decision on whether to change that number is expected from Governor Andrew Cuomo’s wage board in February.
