Greensboro's African American Community Newspaper since 1967
It’s been 15 years since North Carolina’s minimum wage has been raised for the state’s grassroots workers, even though the cost of living has steadily gone up. If House Democrats have their way, North Carolina’s minimum wage will rise from $7.25 per hour to $22.00/hr.
Democratic House members Pricey Harrison (D- Guilford), Carolyn Logan (D-Mecklenburg), Marcia Morey (D-Durham), and Aisha Dew (D-Mecklenburg) are the primary sponsors of House Bill 339, the Economic Security Act.
According to the bill’s language, HB 339 is “An act advancing economic security for all in North Carolina by increasing the state minimum wage to twenty-two dollars per hour, adjusted for inflation annually; mandating equal pay for equal work; requiring paid sick leave, paid family medical leave, and workplace safety…”
If passed, the bill would become effective Jan. 1, 2026.
HB 339 was introduced March 11th, and has been referred to the Rules, Calendar and Operations of House Committee.
In the state Senate, SB 326, also titled the Economic Security Act, and sponsored by Democratic Senators Natalie Murdock (Chatham, Durham), Julie Mayfield (Buncombe) and Lisa Grafstein (Wake), filed March 19th, would, if passed, also raise North Carolina to $22.00/hr., effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Past that date, the N.C. Commissioner of Labor would determine how much the minimum wage would be raised annually.
SB 326 has similar language to HB 339, except that it also would require “…the fair assessment of persons with criminal histories by “banning the box”” and “…repealing public employee collective bargaining restrictions.”
The Senate bill has also been referred to the Rules and Operations of the Senate Committee for further debate.
With Republicans in the majority in both houses, it seems unlikely that either measure will be ultimately ratified, especially given Republican opposition to raising the minimum wage on both the state and federal levels.
Republicans say having to pay workers a high minimum wage increases the cost of doing business and does not give workers with little skills the incentive to work harder to earn more.
“Raising the minimum wage hurts the poor…” The Joint Economic Committee of Republicans said in its 1996 The Case Against a Higher Minimum Wage.
“It takes away jobs, keeps people on welfare, and encourages high school students to drop out. Policymakers should be clear on the consequence of higher minimum wages.”
Democrats and supporters of raising the minimum wage counter that grassroots workers need a living wage that they can feed their families with, keep pace with inflation, and argue that too many have to work two and three jobs in order just to pay rising rents and put food on the table.
“We know these Americans. We depend on them,” said Pres. Barack Obama in 2014. “The workers who’d benefit from a minimum wage increase often work full-time, often in physically demanding jobs. They average 35 years of age. Most low-paying jobs are held by women.”
