Today the Fast Food Wage Board, appointed by Acting State Labor Commissioner Mario J. Musolino, voted on three motions, the summary and results of which are below.

1. A motion to raise the wage to $15 for employees of fast food chains.
Passed 3-0

2. A motion to phase in the increase incrementally to take effect in New York City by December 31, 2018 and by July 1, 2021 for the rest of the state. For New York City, the minimum wage should be increased to $10.50 on December 31, 2015, $12.00 on December 31, 2016, $13.50 on December 31, 2017, and $15.00 on December 31, 2018.  For the rest of the state, the minimum wage should be increased to $9.75 on December 31, 2015, $10.75 on December 31, 2016, $11.75 on December 31, 2017, $12.75 on December 31, 2018, $13.75 on December 31, 2019, $14.50 on December 31, 2020, and $15.00 on July 1, 2021.
Passed 3-0

3. A motion that the term ‘fast food chain' be defined to include fast food establishments that are part of chains that have 30 or more locations nationally.
Passed 3-0

The full text of the motions are available at: www.labor.ny.gov/fastfoodwageboard.

Next Steps

According to statute, the Wage Board must now finalize and submit a report to Acting State Labor Commissioner Mario J. Musolino. The Board is scheduled to meet on Monday, July 27, to approve its report. The details of this meeting will be announced soon.

The Board's Report and Recommendations will then be published and followed by a 15-day public comment period. Comments will be accepted online and by mail.

Based on those comments, the commissioner may accept, reject or modify the board's recommendations and file a wage order. The wage order must be filed within 45 days once the report is filed. The order is then subject to an additional regulatory process.