Minimum Wage Increase Announced by Governor Cuomo; The Good News Is Delivered in our auditorium

March 2, 2015 2:44 PM

Saying that the sweetest success is shared success, Governor Andrew Cuomo came to our Union’s auditorium on February 24 to announce some very good news for the state’s working poor. Cuomo said the state’s labor commissioner, Mario J. Musolino, had ordered an increase in the minimum wage for tipped employees to $7.50 an hour. Cuomo noted that Musolino was acting on the recommendation of a three-person state Wage Board, one of whose members is Hotel Trades Council President Peter Ward.

It was Ward who opened the event, noting that he was deeply proud to be part of a union movement that has been behind almost every piece of progressive legislation in New York in the last 100 years. In comments that are reproduced in their entirety in this week’s Hotel Voice editorial, Ward added that the increase in the minimum wage had the union label stamped all over it.

After a warm welcome from the audience of Hotel Trades Council members and members from 1199, SEIU 32 BJ and RDSWU among others,Governor Cuomo thanked our Union for providing the hall and hosting the event announcing the good news.

“This union has been a good friend for a long time,” Cuomo said. “And what Peter Ward has done for Hotel Trades Council members is one of the most dramatic things I’ve ever seen in the labor movement,” the Governor added, to a loud and long round of applause.

Cuomo said that Ward and the officers from other unions who were present for the announcement represent a new breed of labor leader. “They understand that business is not the enemy and that labor and business can work together for the common good of all citizens.”

The Governor pointed out that New York was second in the rank of all 50 states in job creation since the recession of 2008, a tremendous accomplishment considering the number of financial district jobs that were lost. He thanked Peter Ward and the other two members of the wage board for their work that led to their recommendation to labor commissioner Musolino, who then ordered the increase in the minimum wage for tipped employees.

Cuomo next turned his attention to the state’s minimum wage for non-tipped employees. While the state’s minimum wage was hiked above the federal minimum wage two years ago and scheduled to raise to $9 an hour this year, Cuomo said it was time to raise it again.

“Nine dollars an hour is only $18,000 a year,” the Governor said. “You cannot raise a family, pay for the rent and food and insurance and health care on $18,000 a year,” adding that the original idea behind the minimum wage was to ensure that it was enough to raise a family with dignity.

Cuomo said he would strongly press the state legislature to hike the minimum wage to $10.50 an hour throughout the state with an extra one dollar an hour in New York City, making the minimum wage in the five boroughs $11.50 an hour. Cuomo said the economy in New York State is booming and that businesses cannot say they are broke and can’t afford the increase in the minimum wage.

“This is a simple issue,” Governor Cuomo told the cheering crowd. “In New York State we do the right thing and we do the fair thing. We have never seen the kind of huge wage disparity in our state that we see now and its time we did something about it and showed the rest of the country that we care for all workers in our state. Besides, raising the minimum wage will help everyone in New York, not just minimum wage workers.”

Remembering the famous words of President John F. Kennedy, the Governor said, “A rising tide lifts all boats,” a metaphor for everyone doing better through a minimum wage increase, and then Cuomo added his own words that resonated throughout the auditorium: “We believe the sweetest success is shared success.”

The crowd in Gertrude Lane auditorium enthusiastically agreed, giving Ward and Cuomo standing ovations at the conclusion of their remarks.

A number of members in attendance had their own comments about the idea of raising the minimum wage.

“I went out of my way to get here today because I strongly support an increase in the minimum wage,” said John Lio, an employee of the Hilton New York who has been a member of our Union for 42 years. “Sure, as union members we do a lot better than the minimum wage, but when the minimum wage is increased to a fair level everyone does better.”

“I can speak personally about the huge difference a better wage can make,” said Nick Cocco, an employee of Resorts World, who attended the event with co-worker Aida Nunez.

“This is wonderful news for tipped workers and if the proposed increase in the minimum wage for non-tipped employees goes into effect it will be even better news,” Nunez said. “All these workers will have more money to take care of their families. It’s about time.”

“I’m glad that our Union is helping the cause of workers who don’t have it as good as we do,” said Aissata Bocoum, an employee of the New Yorker Hotel. “No full-time worker should have to exist on $18,000 a year!”

Members cheering the news that there will be an increase in the minimum wage for tipped employees in New York State and that Governor Cuomo is proposing an increase in the minimum wage for non-tipped employees.

Present for the announcement of an increase in the minimum wage for tipped employees and the proposed increase in the minimum wage for non-tipped employees are Hotel Trades Council President Peter Ward, President of SEIU 32 BJ Hector Figueroa, Governor Andrew Cuomo, SEIU 1199 Secretary-Treasurer Maria Castaneda and Andre Anderson. Despite working a full-time job, Anderson, a tipped employee who earns minimum wage, has had to live in a homeless shelter when his tips were undependable.

Governor Cuomo greets Local 6 Secretary-Treasurer Vanessa Meade.

Following the announcement about minimum wage increases Governor Cuomo greeted members personally. Here, with Peter Ward, he greets HTC members John Lio, Aissata Bocoum, and Vivienne Morgan.