By Alex Robinson
Two state lawmakers from northeast Queens were among a group of legislators calling for a $15 minimum wage for workers at large businesses last week.
State Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D-Fresh Meadows) and state Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Flushing) joined other lawmakers at City Hall to propose a new bill that would impose the new hike on any businesses that make more than $50 million in annual gross revenue and have more than 11 franchises.
“In this economy and across the state, people are struggling. This affects not just the college student in a starting entry level position, flipping burgers. This is also for the single moms who are trying to support a family,” said Rozic, a prime sponsor of the bill. “This is a supportive effort in what we’ve seen not just going on in the city, but also all across the state, in terms of people trying to increase their benefits and their pay.”
Rozic said the bill, called the Fair Wages Act, is part of a broader push to raise wages to coincide with the high cost of living in the state.
If passed, the proposed legislation will amend labor laws to redefine a living wage as $15 per hour for chains, large businesses and transportation businesses.
“Society has to look out for the most vulnerable and people who are living below the poverty line even though they’re working,” Stavisky said. “It affects everybody else, too, because they become a drain on our resources.”
Stavisky said the bill would transfer the cost of public assistance programs such as food stamps and Medicaid from taxpayers to employers as it would lift those in need out of poverty.
In order to be passed, the bill will need the blessing of Sens. Jeff Klein (D-Bronx) and Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), the Senate’s de facto leaders, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who recently opposed giving the city the power to impose its own minimum wage.
Cuomo’s office did not respond to a request for comment on the Fair Wages Act. Klein’s office said he is currently reviewing the proposed legislation. A spokesman for Skelos said he will not support the bill.
Klein, who leads the Independent Democratic Conference, recently received criticism from some Democratic senators for bringing the state Dream Act for a vote at a time it would fail. Stavisky said the Fair Wages Act is going to need a stronger commitment from Klein to pass the state Legislature.
“Sen. Klein has to say more than I’m for it or against it,” Stavisky said. “We don’t want a repetition of the Dream Act where he put it out there when he knew we didn’t have the votes for it. We don’t want fantasy legislation.”
Sen. Daniel Squadron (D-Brooklyn), a prime sponsor of the bill along with Rozic, introduced the bill to the Committee on Labor last week.
Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside), who bolted the mainstream Democrats in February to join the IDC, is also a cosponsor of the bill. Avella said the bill is not a top priority for him as it is relatively new and there are other bills on the Senate’s radar he hopes to get passed first.
“However, I will certainly be discussing Sen. Squadron’s legislation with my colleagues in the State Senate and help advocate for the passage of his legislation as I try and do for all bills which I co-sponsor,” he said.
Reach reporter Alex Robinson by e-mail at arobinson@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
