It is fitting that the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution that values workers during a week that began with a holiday honoring labor. As part of the Sept. 4 consent agenda, the the commissioners passed a living-wage resolution ensuring that their regular employees are making a living wage.
A living wage is the minimum amount a full-time worker needs to make in order to meet their basic needs without assistance, and a more just minimum than the minimum wage. I believe that all workers need to be valued and deserve, at least, to make a wage that allows them to put a roof over their head and food on their table without assistance. I am thankful that employees serving the people of Buncombe County will be paid at least a living wage.
Buncombe County now joins the cities of Asheville and Durham (and Durham County) in adopting a living-wage policy, and over 300 employers in WNC that voluntarily pay living wages. This is a great step forward for the Asheville-Buncombe Living Wage Campaign spearheaded by Just Economics.
Thank you, Buncombe County commissioners, for making this commitment to value your workers!
— Vicki Meath
Just Economics
Asheville
