(Long Island, NY) Working Families Party New York State Director Bill Lipton made the following comments in response to the deal reached on the minimum wage and paid family leave in the state budget:
Today’s agreement on the minimum wage is historic. We thank the Governor, the Assembly Majority, and Senate Democrats for their leadership in fighting for this milestone and listening to the workers who started the Fight for $15 movement right here in New York just a few short years ago.
We also applaud the Governor and legislative leaders for reaching an agreement that makes New York a national leader on paid family leave. Thanks to the legislation announced today, millions of New Yorkers will soon be able to care for a newborn, elderly parent, or family member in their time of need.
Throughout this budget process, Senate Republicans have reprised their role as the main obstacle to progress. Because of that opposition, the timeline for reaching $15 in parts of the state is less than we hoped for, leaving many New Yorkers earning poverty wages for too long. From the WFP’s founding almost two decades ago, ensuring that all work has dignity and pays a fair wage has been central to our mission. As we celebrate these important steps forward on the minimum wage and paid family leave, we also recommit ourselves to continuing that fight on behalf of working families across our state.
