Aden Hizkias
  Staff Writer

Several weeks ago, the Greensboro City Council passed a resolution in which the minimum wage would be increased to $15 by 2020.

This will start with a $10 an hour for regular and seasonal employees, with the exclusion of workers at the Greensboro Coliseum, and an increase of $12 an hour for employees who receive benefits.

This resolution passed 7-2, with Councilmen Justin Outling and Tony Wilkins voting “no.”

Some council representatives expressed concerns that the  Greensboro Coliseum workers were not part of the original plan.

“There have been concerns, but that actually is coming back to city council. Concerns from our  HR team and labor issues were there, and we were not prepared but it’s coming back to Council next month and will be included,” Councilman Jamal Fox said.

The plan formed by the City Council is to start with the $10 per hour for contract employees and $12 per hour for full time employees as soon as possible, which the council believes is feasible.

Within the budget that they currently have, they are aiming to begin $15  an hour starting from 2016 to 2020.

Although it is still soon, the change depends on the general assembly for all the city employees and is within constraints.“It depends also on the revenue, but it is all achievable,” Councilman Fox told The Carolinian.

The North Carolina General Assembly retaliated by trying to pass a bill last week to stop cities from being able to mandate a higher minimum wage, affordable housing and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation specifically the LGBTQ rights.

This controversial bill failed and was voted down after the Democrats sent it to the legislate’s rules committee. But it seems clear that the addition of cities no longer having the right to set a higher minimum wage was a driving force after Greensboro’s decision.

This addition to the failed bill to take away certain powers from the cities does not come as a surprise. State legislatures have been against the increase of minimum wage and this seems to be the beginning of a crackdown from the state.

“The state is against this idea, they tried to pass that bill, and it failed,” said Fox.

UNC-Greensboro students discussed their feelings about raising the minimum wage in Greensboro.

“I think it’s a good starting point because Greensboro has five colleges, and there are a lot of students that work while in school. We are a big part of the minimum wage community.” Connor Higgins, a full time student at UNCG and full time worker, said.

Many working students agree that this is beneficial for everyone, particularly students who are trying to earn a degree and work at a minimum wage pay rate.

“I believe right after we did it, Charlotte reached out to us and is now looking into doing the same,” Councilman Fox said. “Other cities in the south are talking about it too.”

Along with Charlotte’s interest, there has been a shift across the country. Last month, St. Louis, Missouri voted to raise the minimum wage to $11 an hour by January 2018.

Representative Pricey Harrison went to the White House recently to discuss Guilford County and what citizens have been doing, including this resolution.

“It’s a great thing to have Greensboro in the light in DC for what we are doing for our city,” Fox said.

The resolution had a second component; The Greensboro Restoration Academy. Ex-offenders, who have not committed a violent crime or crime against a child, will receive a six-month internship.

These participants will be payed $12 an hour for 32 hours a week. After completion of this, they will receive a certificate from the council stating they have met the requirements.

The purpose of this is so that businesses in Greensboro will hire them.

Fox hopes that by giving these ex-offenders the “stamp” of the council and showing that they are trying to assimilate back into the community will better help their employment opportunities.

“They will be in the Work Force Department, getting first-hand experience so that they will be ready to walk into a place and get a job,” Fox said.

The goal is to begin this program by December of this year.

“The biggest thing is, hopefully other cities will take up what we are doing. We are pleased to be able to take care of our employees. If you take of your employees, they take care of you.” Fox said.