More than 1 million North Carolinians have officially filed for unemployment insurance, yet those out of work are finding themselves receiving “bottom-of-the-barrel benefits” thanks to steep cuts Senator Tillis made in 2013.

Two recent editorials hammer home how the pandemic has “vividly exposed” the pitfalls of the unemployment system Senator Tillis slashed in 2013. Tillis’ deep cuts, which “bestowed a tax break to state’s businesses at the expense of wage-earners’ security,” have now come “hauntingly back” to hurt those out of work because of coronavirus, leaving North Carolinians with “less money and for a shorter period of time than workers in nearly every other state.” 

Here, from CBC’s editorial board, are the facts about what North Carolina offers:

• One of the lowest maximum weekly unemployment benefits of $350.00. Seven states have a lower maximum.
• The fewest – worst in the nation — number of weeks the state pays out benefits – just 12 weeks while nearly every other state offers 26 weeks.
• A handicapped (at best broken — and cruel at worst) system to increase the weeks benefits are offered as unemployment increases.

North Carolinians out of work “deserve better than bottom-of-the-barrel benefits” – and have Senator Thom Tillis to thank for leaving people worse off and leaving our state “in a more challenging position to recover from a recession.”

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

CBC: Editorial: N.C. unemployed workers deserve better from the legislature
By the Editorial Board
April 29, 2020

Key Points:

• There is an item that should be at the top of the state legislature’s agenda – but is barely on the list of items to be addressed in this COVID-19 session. Be assured, the 876,000 unemployed North Carolinians who have filed claims in the last five weeks are aware of it – and if they aren’t, they will when their benefits may run out six weeks before those who are out-of-work in other states would lose theirs.
• Maybe they’ll realize it right way, spotting North Carolina’s weekly payments are $110 a week less than what folks in others states in similar circumstances get.
• Since the legislature’s passage of the 2013 “reforms” to the state’s unemployment system, that bestowed a tax break to state’s businesses at the expense of wage-earners’ security, North Carolina has ranked at the bottom of how states care for those who are out of work.
• Just a day ago, that action seven years ago came hauntingly back as a study ranked North Carolina dead last for COVID-19 support. Critical contributing factors included a last place ranking in “unemployment insurance recipient rate,” 49th in “coronavirus relief and medical services,” 47th in “unemployment support” and 44th in “ratio of average weekly wage covered by unemployment benefits.”
• They deserve better than bottom-of-the-barrel benefits. They deserve, at a minimum, benefits that are equal to the national average to help them get by until they, and the rest of the state, can get back on its feet.

CBC: Editorial: Facts & fixes to really help N.C.’s unemployed
By the Editorial Board
May 1, 2020

Key Points:

• But these are far from the best of times. The troubling shortcomings of the laws meant to protect North Carolina workers are vividly exposed. Even with the added assistance in the recently-passed federal COVID-19 stimulus legislation, North Carolina workers are left in far greater jeopardy than those anywhere else in the nation.
• There are key provisions in North Carolina’s unemployment laws that work against the protection of workers and must be changed now. If not tens of thousands of workers who suddenly, in the last six weeks, have been forced from their jobs will run out of benefits and leave themselves and their families without anywhere else to turn.
• THE FACTS: Minus any of the recently-enacted ands time-limited special federal help, North Carolina law provides:

• One of the lowest maximum weekly unemployment benefits of $350.00. Seven states have a lower maximum.
• The fewest – worst in the nation — number of weeks the state pays out benefits – just 12 weeks while nearly every other state offers 26 weeks.
• A handicapped (at best broken — and cruel at worst) system to increase the weeks benefits are offered as unemployment increases. With an unemployment rate estimated to hit at least 17%, it would seem to trigger the most allowed by law.
• So, thanks to the clever bill authors in 2013, even though there’s likely to continue to be high unemployment rates – it won’t be until January 2021 that there’s any hope of increasing the number of weeks benefits are offered.
• Relying upon the federally-funded extension – an additional $600 per week through July and an extra 13 weeks of benefits until the end of the year – still leaves North Carolina workers short changed. They still will receive less money and for a shorter period of time than workers in nearly every other state.
• These people who are out of work are the backbone of North Carolina’s economy. Their hard work has made our state prosper. This is the least they are due.