Abinanti Urges Labor Department to Include Westchester County in NYC Minimum Wage Increase

Following the recent Wage Board recommendation to raise the minimum wage for fast food workers in New York, Assemblyman Tom Abinanti (D-Greenburgh/Mt. Pleasant) is urging the state labor commissioner to include Westchester County in the New York City timeline to gradually increase the minimum wage for fast food workers to $15 by 2018.

The Wage Board’s recommendation included a set of guidelines to gradually increase the minimum wage for fast food workers to $15 by 2018 in New York City and by 2021 for the rest of the state.

“By some standards, Westchester’s cost of living is higher than New York City’s and far higher than the rest of the state and the rest of the country. Westchester workers who put in an honest day’s work should be paid enough to keep their families out of poverty,” said the Westchester Assemblyman.

According to the most recent data from the Economic Policy Institute, Westchester County is ranked as the 5th most expensive place to live in America – with a cost-of-living index of 149 -- while New York City is ranked as the 8th most expensive place to live in America – with a cost-of-living index of 144.

“New York City and its surrounding suburbs have interdependent economies and similar costs of living,” said Abinanti. “Our workers travel regionally and should benefit from the same minimum wage.”

Abinanti, an outspoken advocate for raising the minimum wage, initially applauded the recent Wage Board recommendation but reiterated his call to raise the minimum wage for all workers, saying, “Now we must ensure all New Yorkers receive a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.”