A wage board panel set up by Governor Cuomo has recommended that the state’s minimum wage for chain fast food workers should increase to $15 by 2018 for New York City and by 2021 for the rest of the state. This represents a more than 70 percent increase over the current minimum wage of $8.75. The recommendation, spurred by labor protesters in New York City four years ago, follows a burgeoning national trend in minimum wage increases.
See "New York Acts to Mandate $15 Minimum Wage in Fast Food", Patrick McGeehan, July 22, 2015