GREENSBORO, N.C. — Some Greensboro city workers will voice their concerns at a rally on Tuesday, June 4.
The UE Local 150 Greensboro City Workers' Union said the city's budget is leaving them behind in regard to pay.
If the proposed budget is adopted, that would mean a 4% increase for most city employees. Thirty-five out of more than 3000 employees would still be making under $20 an hour; of those 35, only 4 are just under $19 an hour.
Kass Ottley, field organizer for UE 150 Greensboro City Workers Union, said this rally is about workers being heard.
Ottley said the Greensboro city manager had a meeting for workers the other day at 10 a.m., and many weren’t able to attend because they were at work. She claims workers' questions were not addressed.
Ottley said the city manager proposed increasing the minimum wage for city workers to $18.75. According to the Greensboro City Workers' Union, that’s only a 75-cent increase from what they are currently making.
Ottley said that the proposal is not enough for workers to live on, and they are asking for a 20-25 dollar raise.
Greensboro city workers also ask for 3% CDL pay, 7% hazardous pay, and a grievance policy.
Ottley said city pay impacts turnover, and rallies like this are important.
"It helps to get community support because, in many of these cases, the community has no idea what these workers are being paid. A lot of times, they don’t have an idea of all of the things that they are responsible for, and they are essential workers, and they need to be respected and paid like essential workers,” Ottley said.
Greensboro mayor Nancy Vaughan said she's surprised with the late budget requests because, historically, the Greensboro City Workers' Union has reached out well before budget negotiations.
Mayor Vaughan said city employees are valued; this budget should prove that.
"It's unusual that they would have waited this long. I do think that if they have the opportunity to sit down and look at what we have done as far as compensation and benefits, that they will be pleased," Mayor Vaughan said.
The rally will start at 5 on Tuesday night at Center City Park.
The city's proposed budget will be voted on by the council on June 18 and will go into effect on July 1.
Ottley said if demands are unmet, workers will potentially look to vote out elected city officials.