Gwinnett commissioners approve pay raises for county employees, make Juneteenth a county holiday (attorneys)

[Born 2 Roll]

Gwinnett County commissioners have approved pay raises and a new paid county holiday for Gwinnett County employees.

County commissioners added late items to their business meeting agenda on Tuesday to create a new Juneteenth county holiday, to give county first responders a 10% market adjustment pay raise and to give other county employees an 8% market adjustment pay raise. The raises mean the minimum hourly rate a Gwinnett County government employee could earn is $15 per hour...

... The first responders who will get 10% market adjustments include police officers, sheriff's deputies, firefighters and paramedics, corrections officers, E911 workers and employees of the District Attorneys and Solicitor's offices.

Meanwhile, the decision to make Juneteenth, which is June 19, a county holiday comes after it was made a state and federal holiday. The day commemorates the anniversary of when the last enslaved African-Americans learned they had been emancipated at the end of the Civil War. It is considered the end of slavery in the U.S.

Gwinnett County officials said that the new Juneteenth holiday will be a paid holiday and will not replace any other holidays.

Gwinnett commissioners approve pay raises for county employees, make Juneteenth a county holiday (Gwinnett Daily Post)

[arjay57]

I would say it's a good thing. Is there any reason against it?

[beach43ofus]

So glad I escaped while the time was right. Good luck Gwinnett taxpayers and employers. You now have a huge target on your backs. I suggest doing as I did...get out.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by arjay57

I would say it's a good thing. Is there any reason against it?

Well Juneteenth is really just a Texas holiday. June 19th is when the news got to Galveston that the slaves were free, so its been celebrated in Texas for 150 years. Emancipation was already known in most of the country. Seems kind of silly to make it national. Slaves weren't freed in Kentucky and Delaware until the 13th amendment was ratified December 18, 1865.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by bu2

Well Juneteenth is really just a Texas holiday. June 19th is when the news got to Galveston that the slaves were free, so its been celebrated in Texas for 150 years. Emancipation was already known in most of the country. Seems kind of silly to make it national. Slaves weren't freed in Kentucky and Delaware until the 13th amendment was ratified December 18, 1865.

Well, I realize the details are a little complicated but if we're going to have a day to mark the end of slavery Juneteenth is as good a day as any other. We observe other holidays even though the date may not be factually accurate.