Governor Andrew Cuomo was joined by Vice President Joe Biden Thursday to announce that fast food workers across the state will begin to see an increase in their minimum wage, eventually reaching $15 an hour. The governor also said that he is now prepared to support a $15 wage for all workers. Zack Fink filed the following report.

With the vice president by his side, Governor Andrew Cuomo told a rally of union workers that wages for fast food workers will officially rise to $15 an hour.

"The state of New York's Labor Department has accepted the Wage Board recommendation in full, and 150,000 fast food workers will see their wages rise to $15 an hour," Cuomo said.

Earlier this year, Cuomo convened a wage board to study the minimum wage for fast food workers, and this past summer, that board recommended an increase to $15 an hour. The labor commissioner's acceptance of that recommendation means wages will begin to increase next year, barring an injunction from a judge.

Vice President Joe Biden joined the governor for the announcement, saying he and the president are committed to fully implementing the economic recovery they presided over after taking office in 2009, when the unemployment rate was 10 percent.

"We need to address the single biggest issue facing not just individuals but our entire economy, and that's stagnant wages," Biden said.

Cuomo now says he is prepared to support a $15 minimum wage for all workers.

Earlier this year, the governor proposed an $11.50 minimum wage in New York City. When Mayor Bill de Blasio called for $13, the governor dismissed that idea as a "non-starter."

"Raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour will bring fairness to 2.2 million working New Yorkers," Cuomo said.

Although the governor's position has evolved on the issue, he must still get $15 for all workers through the state Legislature.

In a statement, Republican State Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan said, "Raising the wage floor in New York that far that fast could lead to unintended consequences such as severe job losses."

The earliest Cuomo could begin to push legislation calling for a $15 minimum wage is this coming January, when the legislature reconvenes in Albany. Two years ago, Cuomo and the state legislature raised the current minimum wage to $8.75 an hour. It jumps up to $9 an hour by the end of this year.