North Carolina Lawmakers Call for Passage of $15 Minimum Wage

State Democratic lawmakers and workers’ rights advocates on Thursday demanded swift passage of legislation that would raise North Carolina’s minimum wage to $15 an hour.

The lawmakers and advocates have an uphill battle: neither of the so-called “Up Minimum Wage” bills (Senate Bill 673 and House Bill 612) has a single Republican cosponsor in the GOP-controlled General Assembly.

But that didn’t stop wage-hike advocates from holding a press conference Thursday to trumpet the merits of the legislation.

House Democratic Whip Susan Fisher of Buncombe County said even though she has not heard GOP leaders in the General Assembly voice opposition to a minimum wage increase, she pointed to “a global consciousness of making sure that business owners are protected rather than workers.”

Read more: https://indyweek.com/news/northcarolina/lawmakers-call-for-passage-of-15-minimum-wage/