Democrat Braxton Winston II, candidate for NC labor commissioner, answers our questions
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Candidates for NC Commissioner of Labor
Voters will elect a new commissioner of labor in the 2024 general election. Republican Luke Farley is running against Democrat Braxton Winston II. Get to know both candidates with our NC Voter Guide.
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To help inform voters about the Nov. 5, 2024, election, this candidate questionnaire is available to be republished by local publications in North Carolina without any cost. Please consider subscribing to The News & Observer to help make this coverage possible.
Name: Braxton Winston II
Political party: Democrat
Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 41
Campaign website: votebraxton.com
Current occupation: Stagehand
Professional experience: 20 years
Education: Davidson College ‘07 (degree in anthropology)
Please list any notable government or civic involvement. Former mayor pro tempore of Charlotte City Council, elected at-large.
What would be your top priority if elected?
To make North Carolina the No. 1 state for business AND workers.
What percentage raises should your state agency’s employees receive in the next state budget?
Too many important safety positions go unfilled simply because they aren’t paid enough. It is not abnormal to see 25% of these positions going unfilled at the North Carolina Department of Labor. Workers are dying in ways that can be prevented if only those businesses are inspected or if reports of dangerous situations are responded to. We can’t afford to continue to offer uncompetitive wages, especially when we have the money. The next budget should have consecutive 5% raises with the ability to offer $5,000 bonuses.
Will you attend all Council of State meetings?
Yes.
How will you work with the other nine members of the council, including the governor?
The commissioner of labor can improve communities by taking a “whole worker” approach. I will work with the Council of State to sustain resilient workforces by: working to eliminate poverty, closing the digital divide, increasing access to health care, advocating for accessible and well-funded child care, providing dependable access to transportation, increasing access to affordable housing and eliminating homelessness with a focus on veterans, and reducing the number of workers living in a food desert.
Whether it’s you or your opponent, North Carolina will have a new labor commissioner after the election. What worked well under the current commissioner, and what would you do differently than him?
Unlike his predecessor, Commissioner Dobson has taken the statutory responsibilities of the NCDOL seriously. He has made concrete steps to increase the amount of safety inspectors budgeted and has gone to the mat to get the financial resources needed to hire more inspectors to try and increase the workplaces being inspected across North Carolina. While this should be applauded, the commissioner is the lead advocate for North Carolina workers. Our workers deserve a stronger and more effective advocate. I will be that.
Would you put your photo on elevator inspection certificates?
Yes. It is a good thing that the general public can put a face and name on their government. More people should be able to recognize their Council of State members. The elevator certificate has become a ubiquitous part of North Carolina. I think this presents an opportunity to do more with its functionality as a tool. I want to explore using tech (like QR codes) that allows people to interact directly with NCDOL to do things like learn about their rights, file reports and ask questions.
Construction worker deaths have climbed in North Carolina in recent years. What is your philosophy on workplace safety, and how would you address this issue, specifically?
All workplace injuries and fatalities are preventable. I will work with stakeholders to promote cultures of safety, collaborate with the North Carolina General Assembly to appropriately fund and strengthen the Occupational Safety & Health Division (OSH) and other compliance departments, and work with stakeholders to amplify preventative practices across industries, especially with our workers who experience extreme heat on the job like our sanitation workers, farm workers, letter carriers and construction workers.
Do you think the state should overturn the law banning collective bargaining for public sector employees? Why or why not?
Yes. It is a travesty that public sector workers can’t bargain. It’s bad for the worker and the taxpayer. If workers’ voices aren’t heard, policy makers make uninformed decisions that have negative fiscal impacts. Also, since there isn’t a process where workers get to put issues on the table which would become public record, we all lack information about how tax dollars are prioritized, making it harder to hold representatives accountable for how tax dollars are being spent.
Is there an issue on which you disagree with your party? What is your position on that issue?
While labor issues have always been political, they don’t always fall neatly into political corners, nor should they. I know Democrats who are afraid to stand with workers when they are most in need of support. Some won’t say the word “union,” let alone support the efforts of workers organizing. Some Democrats think “union” is a dirty word. I am proud of the labor movement, and I will stand with workers and will work with those who stand with workers regardless of their partisan affiliations.
