Tag Archives: workers

A Resolution in Support of North Carolina’s Working People and Their Families

North Carolina is ripe for progress on the rights and well-being of workers and their families. I was glad to author this resolution, which the Board of Aldermen approved unanimously this week.

WHEREAS, everyday working people in North Carolina are struggling in an economy that doesn’t work for them, and stagnant wages, cuts to public services, systemic discrimination, and a weakened social safety net are the norm for many communities; and

WHEREAS, public policy choices, not just market forces, determine whether working people have access to economic opportunities and benefit fairly from the work they do; and

WHEREAS, diverse local governments across North Carolina have enacted policies to support our own employees as allowed by state law, but are limited in our ability to extend protections and benefits to other working people in our communities; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Carrboro has supported our own employees by becoming a certified Orange County Living Wage employer, providing paid parental leave, adopting employment nondiscrimination policies and practices, and extending eligibility for employment benefits to same-sex partners of Town employees; and

WHEREAS, North Carolinians need access to safe, green, living wage jobs, free from violence, harassment, and discrimination; and

WHEREAS, worker organizing, union membership, and collective bargaining remain the most effective tools for working people to exercise their power on the job and in the public sphere;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Aldermen of the Town of Carrboro thanks our legislative delegation for promoting the well-being of North Carolina’s workers and their families and urges them continue this important work by supporting:

  • Legislation to raise the minimum wage for all workers in North Carolina.
  • Legislation to provide paid leave for workers in North Carolina who want or need to take parental leave, care for a sick family member, or meet other important family needs.
  • Legislation that empowers public employees in North Carolina to negotiate wages and other conditions of their employment, such as by repealing “right to work” laws and extending the right to collective bargaining to public sector employees.

This is the 14th day of May, 2019.