Suozzi Signs ‘Living Wage’ Bill Into Law

Will Boost Minimum Wages to $9.50 An Hour
for Workers Doing Business With The County

Mineola, NY – After being unanimously approved by the Legislature, Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi signed a “living wage” law that will increase minimum wages for workers contracted by the county to $9.50 an hour beginning next year.

 The minimum hourly pay rate will increase to $10.50 an hour in 2008, and again in 2010 to $12.50 an hour.

“Workers who day in and day out perform some of the hardest tasks in the county deserve to do better,” Suozzi said. “This bill will raise incomes, it will raise spirits, and it will raise interest in doing business with this County. It will allow some workers who are living on the edge to do a better job of providing for themselves and their families. It is a win-win situation for everyone involved.”

The law will require any county contractor who furnishes services to the county in excess of $25,000 to pay a “living wage.”  The county employees about 8,500 workers and has more than $200 million in annual contracts. The bill, introduced by Legislator Kevan Abrahams (D-Hemsptead), was approved by a unanimous 19-0 vote in the Nassau County Legislature.

“In a $2.4 billion county budget, we can find the dollars to pay for this,” said Legislator Abrahams. “Nassau will be joining New York City, Suffolk and Westchester counties and numerous other municipalities in the country who all have a living wage law.”

Dan Cantor, executive director of the Working Families Party, praised Suozzi for signing the bill.  “Low income families will get a hand up as a result of Tom Suozzi signing the Living Wage bill that we’ve pushed so hard for,” he said.

The County Comptroller is responsible for monitoring compliance by all contracting agencies and recipients of County funds, as well as providing covered employers and employees with the information and assistance necessary to ensure they receive a living wage. Contractors are also responsible for either providing health benefits to their employees, or supplementing their employees hourly wage rate by an amount no less than the health benefits supplement rate.

“If Nassau County wants to be economically viable and attract people to work and live here, then it has to be possible for working people to afford it,” said Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury). “Let’s face it, no one can live on Long Island making the minimum wage. The Living Wage law will enable working Nassau County residents to not merely subsist, but to lift themselves and their families out of poverty.”