MaryBe talks raising wages with Women AdvaNCe
In March, Women AdvaNCe explored how the minimum wage impacts women, jobs, and the economy in North Carolina.
To conclude that series of articles, Women AdvaNCe contributor Jennifer Ferris interviewed state AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer MaryBe McMillan about why raising wages should matter to all North Carolinians, how collective bargaining power can achieve pay equality, and who are the anti-union forces trying to stop us.
Would raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour solve all NC’s labor problems?
It’s not enough to just have Congress increase the minimum wage. Workers shouldn’t be at the mercy of lawmakers to raise wages. That’s why it’s important that workers have a voice to collectively bargain. When workers have a union they can fight for better wages, benefits, and a schedule that allows them time off to see children. If we want to fight for equality, we need to argue for workers’ rights to collectively bargain.