Bill Says Car Wash Workers Should Get Minimum Wage: [POLL]

Yes, the minimum wage has gone up and will continue to go up in New York. Minimum wage workers saw an increase in their hourly wage last year on Dec. 31 and will see another raise Tuesday.

The amount depends on where one lives. In New York City, the minimum wage will reach $15 per hour for employees in companies with 10 or fewer people. People working for companies with 11 or more employees saw a $15 hourly rate last December.

Employees in Westchester and on Long Island saw an increase from $11 to $12 last Dec. 31, and their wages will continue to go up $1 each year until it reaches $15 per hour.

For the remainder of the state, the minimum wage went up to $11.10 per hour last Dec. 31. It will increase at the end of 2019 and 2020 to $11.80 and $12.50, respectively. After that, the increase will be determined by the director of the Division of Budget.

However, if you receive tips, such as someone who waits tables or works in a car wash, you are legally allowed to have a base pay less than the minimum wage. The hourly tip allowances as of Tuesday will range — again, depending on where one lives — from $1.75 north and west of Westchester to $3.65 for NYC employees.

A bill that passed both houses in Albany June 6 would mandate that car wash workers — people who are primarily engaged in washing, vacuuming or general car cleaning — receive the standard minimum wage with no reduction based on receiving tips.

The Daily News Editorial Board lauded the passage of the bill, but bemoaned the fact that Gov. Andrew Cuomo still hasn't received the legislation to sign.

Cuomo, the editorial board said, supports the bill but is concerned that it only applies to New York City, Westchester County and Long Island.

The bill's authors justified the legislation by saying, "It is hard to fathom that there are people out there attempting to survive off less than the state's minimum, in areas where even minimum wage jobs may cause homelessness and hunger."

The end result of the bill would eliminate generosity — or lack thereof — of customers and honesty — or, again, lack thereof — of employers from determining one's take-home pay.

Stuart Applebaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, said the law would change the lives of thousands of car wash workers in the state.

"For far too long, car wash workers in New York have earned poverty wages under the tip credit law," he said in a press release.

"As a result of the work of both chambers passing this legislation, over 5,000 workers will not have a chance to earn fair wages for their work," Applebaum said.

Now it's your turn to weigh in. Vote in our unscientific poll and tell us what you think in the comments.