North Carolina ought to provide livable wages, make sure no person goes hungry and that everyone in need has affordable, accessible childcare.
Our 2nd set of demands recognizes the great needs of low income people. Here are Al Ripley, our NAACP Labor Chair and Rev. David Forbes:
DID YOU KNOW:
- that 30 % of Hispanics, 27% of Blacks, and 10% of whites in NC live in poverty?
- that 28% of all workers earn less than $9.60 an hour, the amount needed to lift a family of four out of poverty?
- that one fourth of all NC Children below 5 live in poverty?
- that 39,000 working people who qualify are now waiting for state childcare?
- that 14% of NC homes don’t have enough money to feed their family for the entire month, each month of the year.
- Al Ripley
THEREFORE, WE INVITE:
- every N.C. legislator to join my family, as we try to live on $6.15 an hour or about 200 bucks a week after taxes. After a couple of weeks on this, we believe they will join with all of here today in demanding legislations to fund more training and education programs for low-wage workers.
WE DEMAND:
- full funding the state’s childcare subsidy system.
- raising our minimum wage to a livable wage and making sure every State employee, and County and City employee, and every business that contracts with the State pays a livable wage.
- Rev. David Forbes