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Under New York law, La Guardia and Kennedy airport workers, like many other state workers, are already earning at least $ 13 an hour. This floor will rise to $ 15 on December 31, making New York one of the leaders in the movement toward much higher minimum wages. California and several cities across the country have adopted plans to gradually increase their minimum to $ 15 by the hour. The federal minimum is $ 7.25 / hour.
In what Port Authority officials said was a first for a New York governor, Cuomo traveled to Jersey City, New Jersey, where the board of directors was meeting, to urge commissioners to approve the measure. "It's smart, it's fair, it's right and you'll reap the benefits in dividends," said Cuomo.
Port Authority opposition began to dissolve this year after New Jersey voters elected Philip D. Murphy, Democrat, to succeed Christie, who campaigned to raise the minimum wage of State. However, the vote on the proposal to increase the minimum for airport workers was postponed for several months after the airlines challenged the authority of the port authority to compel private companies to pay.
In response, the agency produced a comprehensive "analysis and rationale" that airports faced high turnover that threatened to make airports less safe and degrade services to travelers. He cited the benefits of other airports after increasing their minimum wage.
"The lifting of airport workers' salaries is now a proven tool, widely used to address a series of serious recurring problems at US airports, which are now affecting the Port Authority's airports," says the paper. .
Airlines for America, a Washington-based trade group, argued that the agency's arguments in favor of wage increases constituted a "lack of social protection" and that it would be "simply an additional cost. to be borne by the passengers ". a spokesman for the group, declined to say whether this would constitute a legal challenge to the decision.
Port Authority Chair Kevin O'Toole and Executive Director Rick Cotton said they were confident that their action could withstand any legal challenge. "We expect that within 35 days, there will be an increase in the minimum wage," O'Toole said.
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