Rekisha Jones wants to become a chef.
But for more than a year, she has worked as a cashier at a Popeye’s in Flatbush, Brooklyn, for $8 an hour — the minimum wage.
Most weeks Ms. Jones, 20, earns about $140.
She is boarding a bus to Albany this morning, where she will join as many as 1,000 low-wage workers — fast food, car wash and retail employees — to ask state lawmakers to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 before their session ends on Thursday.
The legislation, which received support from Governor Cuomo this month, would also allow cities and counties to set a wage of up to $13.13.
An increase like that is opposed by business groups who say that it would force firms to lay off workers and raise prices.
A report by Comptroller Scott M. Stringer found that raising the minimum wage to $13.13 would translate to $100 more per week for around 1.2 million New Yorkers.
Ms. Jones said an increase would help her pay back loans and return to school.
“If it was to go up to $13.13, it would take me a few months,” she said. “But working for $8, it’s going to take me forever.”
Here’s what else you need to know.