MEDIA ADVISORY: As Public Support for a $15 Minimum Wage Soars, NC Workers, Small Business Owners, Clergy Rally Behind $15 Minimum Wage Bill
Contact: Megan Williamson, 209-614-3791, megan.williamson@thefightfor15.org
North Carolina Legislators reintroduce bill to raise the state minimum wage to $15/hr by 2023 and remove discriminatory exemptions
Statewide Coalition to hold press conference declaring “It’s Our Turn” after several U.S states reap economic, societal rewards of raising minimum wage.
RALEIGH — North Carolina lawmakers will join Raising Wages NC —a coalition of essential workers, businesses, faith leaders and policy advocates— on April 22 to announce the reintroduction of inclusive legislation that raises the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $15 an hour by 2023 and indexes it to the cost of living, ends the subminimum wage for persons with disabilities and phases it out for tipped workers, and repeals exemptions for agricultural and domestic workers.
North Carolina’s minimum wage has been stuck at the federal level of $7.25 an hour for nearly 12 years. Our state’s tipped minimum wage stands at the federal level of $2.13 per hour.
What: Press conference to applaud reintroduction of NC $15 Minimum Wage bill, demand swift passage
Who: North Carolina workers, small business owners, clergy and community advocates with Raising Wages NC Coalition; North Carolina Lawmakers including Representative Susan Fisher, Senator Natalie Murdock
When: Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 10:30am
Where: via Zoom (registration required. Contact: Megan Williamson, 209-614-3791, megan.williamson@thefightfor15.org)
“Essential workers have been keeping people fed and keeping our state on track during COVID, but we’re not making enough to survive,” said Nashon Blount, a member of NC Raise Up/Fight for $15 and a Union, who earns $8.50 per hour at a Durham McDonald’s. “Why is North Carolina allowing so many working families to live in poverty, when these companies can afford to pay us $15 per hour? Workers have been demanding it for years and other states have shown it’s possible. Now it’s our turn.”
Currently, 29 states and D.C. have minimum wages above $7.25 per hour and numerous states have $15 minimum wage legislation in motion— the result of persistent grassroots organizing by workers and advocates across the country. Numerous studies have shown far reaching societal benefits of raising the minimum wage including fewer people in poverty, improved physical and mental health, significant decrease in suicide rates, decrease in child neglect, progress toward closing the racial wage gap and the gender wage gap. Raising wages will also boost consumer demand and accelerate job growth.
“North Carolinians shouldn’t have to wait on an act of Congress to get a long overdue raise,” said MaryBe McMillan, President of the NC AFL-CIO. “Our state lawmakers need to act, as numerous states and cities have already done, and pass an increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour. A recent poll shows 75% of North Carolinians support raising the minimum wage. Economic progress is happening in places with higher wages, and North Carolina needs to keep up.”
Senate Bill 673, sponsored by Senators. Nickel, Murdock and Foushee, was introduced on April 8. House Bill 612, sponsored by Representatives Fisher, Cunningham, Gailliard and Harrison was introduced on April 20.
"This legislation will deliver a crucial raise for North Carolina's working families," said Rep. Susan Fisher. "It is time to lift our state's minimum wage and ensure that the workers who keep our economy running are paid enough to survive."
MEDIA ADVISORY FOR: April 22, 2021
Contact: Megan Williamson, 209-614-3791, megan.williamson@thefightfor15.org
###