It’s a battle that’s been brewing for years in New York State. Tuesday’s march was yet another to convince Governor Cuomo to increase the minimum wage.

More than 100 people marched from Westminster Presbyterian Church [including Make the Road New York] in Albany to the Capitol. They crowded inside afterward to deliver 30,000 petition signatures to senate leaders. Those signatures call for the wage to be raised from $7.25 to $8.75 per hour.

Jean Hayes of Poughkeepsie, who traveled to the Capitol for the march, said men and women are busy working two or three jobs just to feed their families that they don’t get to spend time with loved ones.

“It’s a shame that in a country like this, suddenly the parents don’t even have time to be parents,” she said. “It’s broken up the family homes.”

Michael Kink, Executive Director of the Strong Economy for All Coalition, organized Tuesday’s demonstration. 

“There’s over a million-and-a-half New Yorkers that would benefit from an increase in the minimum wage, salaries and family incomes are down in the recession, the lowest-paid workers are getting paid even less,” said Kink. “Raising the minimum wage is something only the government can do to help these families.”

Kink says it’s the best thing for the state. 

“It’s broader prosperity that will help the states economy as a whole create over 7000 new jobs,” he said. “You put $1.3 billion in workers’ paychecks, you’d allow consumers to buy more at local businesses local stores. It’s taking prosperity from just the very, very rich and broadens that to everybody.”

To view the orginal article, click here.