In preview of possible legal fight, NY restaurants file objections to $15 fast-food wage

Franchise owners have filed formal objections to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan to raise the minimum wage of fast-food workers to $15, a prelude to a possible lawsuit.

The increase was endorsed by a state Wage Board last month and will be phased in beginning at the end of the year. It now awaits formal approval by Cuomo's labor commissioner.

In a letter opposing the hike, a lawyer for the National Restaurant Association argues the increase unfairly applies to only national chain restaurants and infringes on the Legislature's authority to pass minimum wage increases.

The letter also notes that the Wage Board had no representative from the fast-food industry.

Franchise owners are considering whether to challenge the increase in court.

The increase will impact an estimated 200,000 workers.