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ON THE ISSUES

Workplace Safety - Luke Farley’s Three Point Plan

Everyone deserves to return home safely at the end of the workday. As Labor Commissioner, my top priority is keeping North Carolina’s workers safe and healthy on the job. I am implementing a three-point plan to improve worker safety across our state:

1. Fill Open Inspector Positions. When I took office, 25% of workplace safety inspector positions were unfilled, leaving the Department of Labor understaffed and workers vulnerable. I’m fighting to address this by advocating for at least a 10% pay raise for safety inspectors across the board. By attracting and retaining top talent, we’ll better protect North Carolina’s workers and ensure safer workplaces.

2. Cut Wait Times for Voluntary Safety Inspections. Voluntary safety inspections are one of the most effective tools to prevent accidents, helping employers identify and fix potential hazards before they become tragedies. However, the average wait time for these inspections was 95 days. We are committed to cutting this wait time in half, ensuring employers can schedule these critical consultations in 45 days or less.

3. Expand Recognition Programs. Citations and fines deter violations, but positive recognition incentivizes excellence. Employers and employees who go above and beyond to create safe workplaces deserve acknowledgment. We are expanding the Department of Labor’s recognition programs, so more North Carolina workplaces can receive the praise they’ve earned for prioritizing safety.

Workforce Development

A four-year college degree is not the only path to success. That’s why I champion vocational and technical education, as well as apprenticeship programs, to address our state’s skilled labor shortage and build a thriving future workforce. As a member of the State Board of Community Colleges, I serve as a bridge between job creators and community colleges to ensure North Carolina workers gain the skills they need to advance their careers and achieve prosperity.

Right-to-Work

No one should be forced to join a union to keep their job. As Labor Commissioner, I’m committed to maintaining North Carolina’s status as a right-to-work state. Employees deserve the freedom to decide for themselves whether to join a union. Protecting individual choice fosters a competitive environment that attracts more businesses and higher-paying jobs to our state.

Medical Freedom for N.C. Workers

No worker should be forced to take an experimental COVID vaccine as a condition of employment. As Labor Commissioner, I am standing up for workers’ medical freedom by enforcing the Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act (REDA) to protect employees from being fired or discriminated against for refusing the COVID vaccine.

 

The federal PREP Act has upended the free-market system by granting broad immunity to vaccine manufacturers and employers who impose vaccine mandates, shifting all the risks onto workers. If federal statutes have stripped workers of basic legal rights, it’s our duty to protect them under state law. That’s exactly what I’m doing as Labor Commissioner.

Elevator Accountability

North Carolinians should feel safe every time they step into an elevator. I’m restoring accountability by keeping the commissioner’s photo on elevator inspection certificates. When my name, signature, or picture is on a certificate, it means I stand fully behind the work of the Department of Labor, ensuring the safety and confidence of every rider.

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