Raising Wages NC announces Labor Day activities in support of living wage

From Raising Wages NC:

Raising Wages Coalition Begins Campaign In WNC

In the Spring of 2017 a group of Western North Carolina organizations, labor unions and activists formed a regional coalition to support the Raising Wages NC campaign. The regional coalition supports legislation introduced in the 2017 General Assembly to increase the minimum wage. The current proposed bill would increase the state minimum wage to $12 per hour in 2020 and $15 per hour in 5 years. This coalition of over twenty-four organizations, under the banner of Raising Wages NC, is centered around introducing and moving legislation through the North Carolina legislature as well as mobilizing working people to advocate for raising the wage floor in N.C. communities. The current minimum wage sits at $7.25 per hour and $2.13 per hour as the subminimum (tipped) wage.

This year the Raising Wages coalition supported HB 289 and the Senate version of the bill, SB210, which would have raised the minimum wage from $7.25 to $12 an hour by 2020 and $15 an hour by 2022. The bills were sponsored by local state Representative Susan Fisher in the North Carolina House, and Senator Terry Van Duyn in the Senate. Both versions of the bill were referred to committee. The coalition’s advocacy campaign is meant to garner bi-partisan support to help pass the bills.

The Western Coalition of Raising Wages NC is rallying around the Labor Day holiday to begin building broad based support from Western North Carolinians to raise the wage floor. The coalition discussed putting ‘labor back in Labor Day’ and is using the week to honor workers and introduce the campaign. The coalition has organized a variety of events and will be participating in Canton’s Labor Day Parade to get the word out about this campaign.

WESTERN NC COALITION MEMBERS

• Carolina Jews for Justice (CJJ-Western Carolina Chapter)
• Just Economics
• Working Films
• Asheville Buncombe Branch of the NAACP
• Asheville Sustainable Restaurant Workforce (ASRW)
• Self Help
• AFL-CIO
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters
• BeLoved Asheville

Our WNC coalition has been meeting all Summer and have organized a series of events the week surrounding Labor Day, Monday September 4th, 2017

• Labor Sabbath
  September 1-3
  EVENT PAGE: https://raisingwagesnc.org/labor-sabbath/
  A weekend when faith communities across the state are joining together to honor labor, talk about worker justice and educate their community about the Raising Wages NC campaign.

• Raising Wages Labor Day Weekend Picnic
  Saturday, September 2
  EVENT PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/events/1925245507800158
  11-1 p.m., On the Grounds of Silvermont in Brevard
  The Living Wage Coalition of Transylvania County and the Transylvania County NAACP are hosting a picnic with food, music, art, and information about Raising Wages NC

• Labor Day Parade in Canton
  Monday, September 4
  Snaking through the downtown district with over 100 homemade floats, the parade showcases the workers, farmers, elected officials, and non-profits that keep the WNC region vibrant and sustainable for all people. Raising Wages NC will have a float in the parade.

• Film & Interfaith Workshop-Faces of Poverty
  Wednesday, September 6
  EVENT PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/events/137493663525071
  7-9 p.m. Congregation Beth Ha Tephila, Asheville
  Join Carolina Jews for Justice West and Just Economics for this grassroots local film, activity and discussion about living on a low income and the Raising Wages coalition.

• Worker Support Rally & Love Letters to Workers Celebratory March
  September 7
  EVENT PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/events/108715399824825
  Tunnel Rd in Asheville.  Gather on the sidewalk in front of the old Dairy Queen at 5:30 p.m. Rally to support labor and deliver love letters to local workers.