The University of Rochester Medical Center hosted its 35th annual Martin Luther King, Jr., celebration today.
The theme was "Fighting for Economic Justice," and several members of the local healthcare workers union were in attendance.
Jerald Drain chairs the hospital's healthcare workers union.
He says Dr. King not only fought for civil rights, but was a champion fighter for the union.
"If we give out an honest day's work, then we should get an honest day's pay that's competitive."
Union delegate at the hospital, Mandela Mais, says they're working to continue Dr. King's legacy through the union.
"Making sure that economic injustice can change, you know that working families don't have to live in poverty any more."
Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul delivered the keynote address at the event, saying that she fully supports the governor's proposal to phase in a minimum wage of 15 dollars an hour.
Union leaders says 127-thousand workers in Monroe County labor for less than $15 dollars an hour.
The University of Rochester issued this statement in response to the ongoing "fight for 15":
The University of Rochester supports in principle an increase in the minimum wage along the lines of what Governor Cuomo has proposed. We recognize the significant benefits our employees provide this institution and place a strong value on the health, safety, quality, diversity, and well-being of our workforce. However, there are still issues that must be considered, such as the phase-in period, impact on federal work-study opportunities for our students, and mitigation for the not-for-profit sector, similar to what is being considered for small businesses and the State University of New York system to keep tuition affordable. As the largest health care provider in the region and the safety-net hospital for our community, we also want to avoid increases in costs to our patients, particularly for those workers whose compensation is largely financed by the state or the Medicaid program. This includes reimbursement increases as well as recognition of the added costs for insurance rate setting purposes. The University of Rochester continually strives to create a work environment our employees can be proud of and where they can grow and develop while making a valuable contribution to our community, region and nation.