Minimum Wage ‘Game’ Changed

Raising New York’s minimum wage appeared an almost sure thing going into this year, but now it is muddled by competing proposals and by political strategies crucial to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Senate Republicans.

It all means an uncertain future for the issue that touches millions of New Yorkers.

“The governor just doesn’t seem willing to bring his ‘A game’ to the minimum wage issue,” said Mark Dunlea of the Hunger Action Network, an advocate for the poor and working poor.

President Obama has proposed a nationwide $9 minimum wage tied to inflation, and Cuomo told reporters that the federal level is “the best place to do a lot of these laws.” The state’s current minimum wage matches the federal one — $7.25 an hour. Opponents fear raising it could kill jobs for the people the measure is intended to help.

“You could argue it’s less urgent for the state to do it, but I think you go down both tracks simultaneously … on the off-chance that it doesn’t get passed,” Cuomo said.

Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos of Long Island said it’s a matter of fairness for employers, as well as workers.

“Since New York’s minimum wage is tied to the federal minimum wage, Senator Skelos agrees with the governor that it should be set at the federal level,” said Skelos spokesman Scott Reif.

“Our intention is to keep New York businesses from being put at a competitive disadvantage,” he said.

The leader of the traditional Democratic conference that would have to provide most of the 32 Senate votes needed to raise the minimum wage is ready.

“We have 27 votes to pass this at $9 an hour [and tied to inflation],” said Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins. “Let’s do it.”

Last year, Assembly Speaker Silver proposed an $8.50-per-hour wage, with further increases based on inflation. In January, Cuomo raised the ante to $8.75 an hour, but without automatic raises based on inflation. Not to be outdone, Sen. Kevin Parker, a Brooklyn Democrat, proposes a minimum wage of $11.15 with indexing for inflation.

He’s trying to counter the years of inaction that left the minimum wage the same since 2004, and he has the support of the Legislature’s Black, Hispanic and Asian Caucus. They note states with far lower costs of living, such as Washington, already set the minimum at $9.15 an hour, the highest in the nation, while high-cost New York City lags behind.

But business groups including Unshackle Upstate warn raising the wage could hurt New York’s uneven economic recovery. “We’ve made some real strides toward improving New York’s anti-business reputation,” said the group’s Brian Sampson. “A minimum wage increase at this time would be a huge step in the wrong direction … And the only … true expense they can control, will be to reduce their labor costs.”

State Conservative Party Chairman Michael Long, influential with Senate Republicans, said last week market forces should determine wages so employers aren’t stuck with political mandates that sap commerce.

This article appeared in print on page 7 of the February 21st, 2013 edition of Hamodia.