‘Living Wage’ for Raleigh, N.C., Employees

The Raleigh, N.C., city council has unanimously approved a “living wage” policy for full-time employees, joining at least 10 other North Carolina localities that have done so.

The council, at a Jan. 17 meeting, approved boosting the minimum wage for city workers who qualify for health benefits from $12.01 to $13.76 per hour, a 15 percent hike. The increase takes effect July 1, 2017, the start of the next fiscal year.

North Carolina law prohibits local governments from requiring private employers or contractors to meet wage or benefit requirements not mandated by the state, but doesn’t bar localities from adopting ...