Minimum wage for fast-food workers will be $15/hour by 2018

We've come a long way since the 80s, and it should show on our paychecks. via Flickr user Ethan

We have our beef with servers’ wages in New York City, but the short end of the stick has always been handed to fast food workers, who’ve made low wages and little-to-no tips since the dawn of the golden arches. So today marks a pretty historic victory, as Labor Commissioner Mario J. Musolino signed off on the labor board’s recommendation to raise fast food workers’ wages to a $15/hour minimum, effective by 2018.

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The changes is a slow phase-in over the next 3 years, as demonstrated by the schedule above. Not long after the labor commissioner’s signing today, there was another push: Governor Andrew Cuomo called for a $15 minimum hourly wage for all workers in New York State, not just for those in the fast food industry.

You can see a full transcript of the Cuomo/Biden announcement here.