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