Women Leaders Say Raising Minimum Wage Helps Female Breadwinners

By CHARISSE HILL

A group of New York City’s highest female elected officials rallied on the steps of City Hall Tuesday to demand economic equality for the women throughout the city.

City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Public Advocate Letitia James and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer called on state lawmakers to immediately act to end the city’s growing income disparity between men and women.

“We do know that women, unfortunately, make just 84 percent of the wages that men do,” Mark-Viverito said. “By raising our minimum wages we can help families and children that depend on women as household earners.”

“Raising minimum wage will make sure our workers are living with dignity and aren’t fighting for survival,” said Public Advocate Letitia James. “It’s rather unfortunate that the governor of the State of New York would not give local control in regards to minimum wage to the City Council, given the high cost of living in the City of New York.”

Advocates addressed that women were increasingly responsible for the economic security of their families.
According to a report released by the Equal Pay Coalition NYC, full-time working women lose approximately $23 million each year due to the city’s wage gap.

Eliminating the wage gap between would provide income for over 250,000 families living in poverty across the city, advocates said.