Statement in Reaction to Minimum Wage

We were told only months ago that raising the minimum wage to $15 was necessary to restoring opportunity and basic dignity to workers and their families across New York State. Political decision-makers in our state just told us that that’s only true if you live south of Westchester County.

If you live in cities like Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse – some of the poorest cities in the nation – the recent minimum wage decision in New York State condemns you to continual poverty in the future. To raise Upstate wages to $12.50 by 2021 is too little, too late.

Working people in our city are forced to choose between rent and groceries this month. That rent will not wait until 2021. They cannot turn off their electricity and wait until 2021 or even 2025 when they finally get $15.

We do not intend to wait. The fast-food worker movement taught us that when working people take bold, public action we can change the narrative of the entire country. Working people from retail, agriculture, fast-food, home-health, and more will continue to demand $15 now.

We congratulate our brothers and sisters in New York City that have won significant wage increase at a fast pace. The Fight for 15 has won major victories and raises for millions of workers across this country. This will only inspire us to continued action. The fight is not over.

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Rick Rivera commented 2018-05-18 15:32:30 -0400
What the people who propose the $15 hour minimum don’t realize is that small businesses will just lay off workers, automate more, or just shutdown. This is economic reality. If you do not like how much you make, learn a skill that will pay you more.
Rick – Owner – http://www.cesspoolservicelongisland.org
Anonymous commented 2018-03-10 19:59:28 -0500
It’s getting harder and harder though, to fight the taxes in the small business game. And then Amazon goes and gets away with paying NO federal taxes and treating their employees like walmart does.. disgusting. http://www.crescendohometheater.com
rj tillerson commented 2018-02-13 17:32:53 -0500
At my three moving businesses, as a small business owner, I can’t afford $15/hour. Heck, I can’t afford $12 for my most basic laborer. The job market should not be regulated above a base minimum wage – otherwise there will be even less jobs.
http://www.davenportmoving.com/
http://www.patersonmoving.com/
http://www.scrantonmoving.com/
Charles Durning commented 2018-02-12 15:25:41 -0500
I totally disagree with RJ below. He obviously has never had to come up from the bottom, working “minimum wage” jobs to supporting himself and family. Perhaps they aren’t meant to support some for a lifetime, they should provide a conduit of survival until you can gain a higher paying job.

http://www.ultimateroofingandconstruction.com/
https://hhrdayton.com/
https://www.towingofcincinnati.com/
rj tillerson commented 2018-02-08 20:01:29 -0500
The minimum wage, and more importantly minimum wage jobs, were never intended to be living wage occupations. They are minimum wage jobs for a reason: low skills and low demand. The solution to all of his isn’t to raise MW but ti improve your education, skills, and perhaps work ethic. https://www.movingcincinnatioh.com/
Patty Mattos commented 2018-01-26 09:29:32 -0500
I support this move because I think everyone needs a bigger condition http://periodicos.est.edu.br/index.php/nepp/comment/view/2156/0/18874
Anonymous commented 2018-01-18 20:17:19 -0500
I am totally am supporting this movement. I rely on fast food to get by in my business. It’s not my first choice but I eat regularly enough to get to know some of the people in those places. Good honest hardworking or just in high school or college. The Fat Cats can share a piece of the pie. Mike – http://seattlesmobilemechanic.com
Shirley Russell commented 2018-01-09 16:34:18 -0500
Tim Hortons head office quickly put out a statement in its defence, <a href=“”https://babyhighchair.net/ciao-portable-high-chair/“>https://babyhighchair.net/ciao-portable-high-chair/”>ciao baby high chair review</a> saying the actions of a ‘rogue group’ do not reflect the views of the company. Eduardo Lima / THE CANADIAN PRESS. Share Adjust Comment Print. Employers are taking steps to control labour costs after the minimum wage
Charles Perry commented 2017-12-20 18:41:17 -0500
I do agree businesses need to raise the wage. There are so many greedy business owners out there who are just in it for the bottom line.
-Charles @ https://www.granitetopsandquartzcenter.com
Anonymous commented 2017-10-18 11:58:11 -0400
As an employer in the Seattle area, with my company Redmond Home Theater ( http://www.pnwav.com ) it’s great to read how other areas of the country and states are approaching this issue. I believe it is a basic human right to be able to find a job, but a job that has a decent wage. Low paying wage jobs do not contribute to society, they only take away and fill fat cat’s pockets. `Will
Robert MacFarlane followed this page 2017-10-17 01:47:17 -0400
Richard McCollough commented 2017-05-17 18:51:46 -0400
The One Take Film Festival, in conjunction with the monthly Black Cinema Series sponsored by the Rochester Association of Black Journalists and the Little Theatre, will screen “Whose Streets?” at 9 p.m. Friday, May 19 at the Little Theatre, 240 East Ave. in Rochester’s East End Entertainment District. Told by the activists and leaders who live and breathe this movement for justice, Whose Streets? is an unflinching look at the Ferguson uprising. Co-director Sabaah Folayan, an activist and storyteller raised in South Central LA, will be present for a post-screening audience talk-back led by the Rochester Association of Black Journalists.
For details, go to http://thelittle.org/series/black-cinema-series and http://otff.org/whose-streets.
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Dissertation House commented 2016-12-06 04:49:47 -0500
My name is Sarah and I am from New York City and a writer of http://www.Dissertationhouse.co.uk/ and I completely agree with you and I personally working citizens in our country are forced to decide between groceries and rent this month.
Colin O'Malley published this page 2016-04-05 15:03:29 -0400