As low-income workers across the country walked off the job and rallied on Nov. 10 as part of the Fight for $15, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that, by executive authority, he will increase the minimum wage for New York State employees to $15 an hour.

The bump will affect about 10,000 workers statewide. Workers in New York City, which has the highest cost of living, will see the raises first. It will fully phase in there by 2019, and across the state in 2021.

Cuomo made his announcement at Foley Square, where fast food and other low-income workers had gathered for one of the hundreds of Fight for $15 rallies in 270 cities across the country. The day was the workers’ largest show of force since their campaign launched three years ago.

“We made a decision a long time ago that if you work full time you should have a decent lifestyle for you and your family,” Cuomo said at the rally. “If you earn the minimum wage, it’s about $18,000 a year in New York. You can’t pay for food and clothing and housing here on $18,000 a year. Period.”

Slate, Nov. 10
USA Today, Nov. 10