Living Wage Fight Revitalized in New York City

Michele Chen @ In These Times - In a city starkly divided between the haves and have nots, community activists are demanding an honest day's pay for New Yorkers who work at businesses profitting on the taxpayers' dime.

Activists representing low-income communities are rallying behind legislation that would boost the wage floor for workers at city-subsidized projects. The pending bill would set the minimum pay at $10 per hour for workers at development sites that benefit from city financial support.

That essentially covers any new development project receiving a city tax break or subsidy, from malls built with municipal tax credits to “redevelopment” schemes in gentrifying neighborhoods. Employers would also have to offer health insurance or pay an extra $1.50 per hour, and the wage would grow with a periodic cost-of-living adjustment. Read more.