Fund the minimum wage increase for workers who support New Yorkers with disabilities

Fund the minimum wage increase for workers who support New Yorkers with disabilities

Started
February 9, 2016
Petition to
Governor - New York Andrew M. Cuomo and 11 others
Petition Closed
This petition had 13,235 supporters

Why this petition matters

Started by NYSARC, Inc.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has proposed a $15 per hour minimum wage to be phased in over three years in New York City and five years for the rest of New York State.  Direct Support Professionals, special education school aides/assistants, home care/ health care aides and others who provide critical supports to people with disabilities, children, seniors and other vulnerable individuals, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, deserve a pay increase. Unfortunately, the Governor’s proposed budget includes a $15 minimum wage mandate but absolutely no funding to pay critical staff these increases that that are long overdue.  After many years of no increase, providers that offer developmental disability, mental health, home care, health care, and other social service supports and services have no ability to absorb these costs or pay these increases without increases in their state funding.  Without additional state funding, all of these supports and services for the most vulnerable New Yorkers are at risk.

I call upon the Governor and the Legislature to fund the minimum wage increase in the state budget.  Low wage workers, individuals, families and all New Yorkers are counting on you to preserve needed supports and services.

The above petition is endorsed by the following developmental disability agencies: The Alliance of Long Island Agencies (ALIA); Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State; the Developmental Disabilities Alliance of Western New York (DDAWNY); the Direct Support Professional Alliance of New York State (DSPANYS); the Inter Agency Council of Developmental Disabilities Agencies (IAC); NYSARC, Inc.; The New York State Association of Community Residential Agencies (NYSACRA); New York State Rehabilitation Association (NYSRA); and the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State (SANYS).

Petition Closed

This petition had 13,235 supporters

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