By comparison, the old contract guaranteed a reporter with six years' experience an hourly minimum of $21.40, although the papers say merit pay brought the average up to $29.

Like Mr. Quello, Ms. Chong had opposed having the F.C.C. set a specific hourly minimum.

"And he's wrong now" in opposing an increase in the hourly minimum to $5.15 from $4.25.

It would affect more than 10 million Americans, whose wages now lie between the current hourly minimum, $4.25, and the new one, $5.15.

The first step of the increase took effect a year ago, when the hourly minimum went from $3.35 to $3.80.

Democrats had sought a $1 increase in the hourly minimum, now $5.15.

A few have hourly minimums.

New York will join at least 14 other states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont, in requiring that workers be paid more than the federal government's hourly minimum of $5.15.

Part-time workers, regardless of age, would see hourly minimums raised by 0.1 percent of the monthly Medicare cost, subject to similar withholding.

The deliverers contended that even with tips, they worked long hours, often six and seven days a week, for far below the $5.15 hourly minimum.