(Image source from: NY Mayor)

New York Mayor, Bill de Blasio is set to announce on Wednesday that, around 50,000 city employees will earn at least $15 an hour by the end of 2018. The move covers low wage employees, who presently make as low as $11.50 an hour.

Mayor Bill de Blasio  said that, "We know that nothing can do, than to lift up working families and move our economy forward than raising wages — and the city is leading by example by doing just that for 50,000 New Yorkers. From pre-K and affordable housing, to paid sick and parental leave, we're taking real action for working New Yorkers."

There are around 20,000 union workers  under the proposal. These workers are school crossing guards, seasonal positions, and other designates. Their agreements will be expired before 2018.

The Mayor is approaching to the union representatives, most of them are DC37 and Communication Workers of America. Officials are planning to add addendums to their agreements to bring them up to $15 an hour within next three years.

The Mayor’s office announced that, raising the wages of those workers who are  currently, making at least $11.79 an hour will charge the city by an extra amount of $36 million through 2020. Employees who presently receive nearly $11.50 an hour, will cost an additional amount of $202 million by 2020 to  execute the proposed plan. There is no further wage increase plan for the taxpayers in the proposed budget.

Hector Figueroa, 32BJ President  said that, "When New York City fast food workers launched their fight for $15 three years ago,  they started a movement that swept through our city and our country. Mayor de Blasio stood on the picket line with the first strikers and now he's putting his steadfast support of fair pay in action with his plan to raise the minimum wage for city employees and city-contracted employees."

"32BJ members know what a difference good pay makes,  and now more than 50,000 workers will see that difference for themselves. This is good for these workers and their families, good for their communities and good for our city," he added.

Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, thanked the mayor, for raising the wages. The federation has been pushing to raise wages for the nonprofit workers. She said, "Front-line workers provide vital services and programs for vulnerable populations. Unfortunately, many of these workers live in near-poverty conditions and often qualify for the same supportive services as the clients they represent. The wage increase is important in ensuring a living wage for this essential workforce.”

Nandini