HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2019-030 Resolution supporting NC Working People and their families RES-2019-030
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING NORTH CAROLINA'S WORKING
PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES
WHEREAS, North Carolina's everyday working people are currently struggling in
an economy that does not work for them and stagnant wages, public service
cuts, systemic discrimination and a weakened social safety net are the norm in
many communities; and
WHEREAS, public policy choices, not just market forces, dictate whether working
people have access to economic opportunities and benefit fairly from the work
they perform; and
WHEREAS, Orange County Government provides strong support for its
employees including a minimum living wage of $15 per hour for full time
permanent employees and $14.95 per hour for temporary employees, with plans
to be at or above $15 per hour for all employees by 2020; and
WHEREAS, North Carolinians need access to safe, green, living wage jobs, free
from harassment, violence 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 we, the Orange County Board of
Commissioners, do hereby urge our legislative delegation to promote the well-
being of North Carolina's workers and their families by supporting:
• Legislation which provides paid family leave for workers in NC who want
or need to take parental leave, leave to care for sick family members, or to
meet other critical family needs;
• Legislation raising the minimum wage for all workers and a $15/hr
minimum wage for all state and local employees;
• Legislation that expands Medicaid coverage; and
• Legislation that empowers public employees to negotiate wages and other
conditions of their employment, such as repealing so called "right to work"
laws and extending the right to collective bargaining to public sector
employees.
This the 21 st day of May 2019.
pi a,
71:
1
Penny Rich, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners