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 The proposal calls for the minimum wage in New York City to rise
to $15 an hour at the end of 2018 and take effect statewide in July
2021, mirroring a state order signed on Thursday that applies only
to the fast-food industry.
It would mark a significant hike from New York state's current
hourly minimum wage of $8.75, which will increase to $9 an hour on
Dec. 31, and faced immediate opposition from business groups that
called the hike unrealistic.
In contrast with the fast-food increase, which the Democratic
governor said could be ordered by the state labor commissioner
without legislative approval, Cuomo will need lawmakers' approval
for a hike for all industries.
A Cuomo proposal for a more modest minimum-wage increase was opposed
by the Republican-led state Senate earlier this year.
 Democratic politicians across the United States have made raising
minimum wages a top issue over the past few years, but the most
dramatic moves have come at the city level.
The Seattle suburb of SeaTac has raised the minimum wage for certain
workers to $15 and Los Angeles plans to adopt the $15 an hour
minimum by 2020. A ballot measure in the District of Columbia to
raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour is expected to go before
voters next year.
Some business groups said Cuomo's proposed hike was too aggressive.
"A precipitous increase that threatens the most vulnerable
businesses and employees would not find a lot of supporters in the
business community," said Kathryn Wylde, president of the
Partnership for New York City.
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Cuomo contended the hike would boost the state's economy.
"The families that get that money are going to spend that money," he
told a labor rally in New York City.
New York State Labor Commissioner Mario Musolino on Thursday signed
the order making the statewide $15 minimum wage for fast-food
workers official following a recommendation by the New York Wage
Board in July.
Washington state currently has the highest statewide minimum wage,
at $9.47, according to the National Conference of State
Legislatures. Massachusetts is set to hike its minimum to $11 in
2017.
(Reporting by Katie Reilly; Editing by Scott Malone and Eric Beech)
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