Buffalo and Rochester are moving to raise the minimum wage of municipal employees to $15 an hour as part of Governor Andrew Cuomo's push to raise the wage floor for all workers.
The Democratic governor joined the mayors of both cities Wednesday for their announcements.
In Buffalo, the increase approved by Mayor Byron Brown will affect 479 workers when fully phased in in 2021.
The increase in Rochester is subject to City Council approval, but has the support of Mayor Lovely Warren and the City Council president.
Last week Cuomo said his administration would gradually increase the minimum wage for all state workers to $15. He wants to pass legislation giving the same minimum to all workers in the state and says that governments can lead by example.
“...the mayors of both Buffalo and Rochester stepped up to lead by example in the fight for fair pay. We are building momentum across the state for a policy that will change lives, and I urge the State Legislature to join us in raising the minimum wage for all workers,” said Cuomo.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press
