New minimum wage goes into effect January 1

Assemblymember Susan John (131st District) reminds employees and employers that the current minimum wage of $6.75 an hour will raise to $7.15 effective January 1, 2007, and food service workers receiving tips will see an increase to $4.60 an hour.

"The gap between the richest 20 percent and the poorest 20 percent of families with children is wider in New York state than any other state," John said. "This increase in the minimum wage helps working families get ahead, it also helps spur the economy since those families now have more money to spend."

Because of federal inaction, the legislature passed the increase in the minimum wage that offers real hope to New York families while joining a growing list of states that are raising the standard of living for minimum wage earners.

"For years, many hard-working New Yorkers have struggled to make ends meet while working a job that pays minimum wage," said John. "These men and women have families to feed, children to send to college and bills that need to be paid and the current increase should help them do that."

December 10, 2006