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Democratic Candidate for Commissioner of Labor Robbin Shipp Criticizes GOP Incumbent for Being “Out of Touch with Reality” at Debate

Release:  Wednesday, October 15, 2014    

                                                                                     

Democratic Candidate for Commissioner of Labor Robbin Shipp Criticizes Republican Incumbent for Being “Out of Touch with Reality” at Debate

 

 

Atlanta, GA – Sunday, Democratic candidate for Commissioner of Labor, Robbin Shipp, criticized Republican incumbent Mark Butler for being “out of touch with reality,” citing—among other issues—his opposition to raising the minimum wage.

 

After a debate moderator pointed out that while most states offer 26 weeks of unemployment insurance payments, Georgians who file unemployment claims receive only 15 weeks of payments, the Republican incumbent responded that “extended unemployment benefits may have actually negatively impacted a lot of people’s progress toward going back to work.”

 

Robbin Shipp refused to allow Butler to shift blame to unemployed workers, saying “A lot of Georgians would be offended by the labor commissioner’s characterization of them as holdouts for the privilege of receiving on average $268 a week.”

 

Butler also misfired with an accusation that Shipp was wrong in stating that the minimum wage in Georgia is $5.15. “You know that is not true,” said Butler.

 

Shipp countered, suggesting Butler “go to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics to see for yourself that Georgia’s minimum wage is in fact $5.15 an hour.”

 

“Had you had the experience that I’ve had traveling all over the state…I’ve met people who make $5.15 an hour,” said Shipp.

 

The United States Department of Labor lists Georgia’s minimum wage rate as $5.15. Robbin Shipp has stated her support for raising the minimum wage throughout her campaign.

 

In her closing statements, Shipp said “I am running to implement policies to raise the minimum wage, implement policies for pay equity for women, to restore to the citizens of the state of Georgia its labor department—one that works for them, not against them.”

 

 

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BACKGROUND

 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

 

U.S. Department of Labor

Meet Robbin Shipp – Georgia Democrats’ Candidate for Commissioner of Labor

Robbin Shipp

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Meet Georgia Democrats’ candidate for Commissioner of Labor, Robbin Shipp.

 

“You will be hard-pressed to find a more dedicated, passionate public servant than Robbin Shipp,” Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter says of Shipp. “Whether she was serving in the state legislature, holding the guilty accountable as an Assistant District Attorney, or advocating on behalf of the voiceless as a citizen, Robbin has proven to be a champion of Georgia’s working class.”

 

As a Georgia State Representative, Robbin Shipp always placed service before self—spending a lifetime fighting for hardworking Georgians. Robbin is the proud daughter of one of the first African American air traffic controllers, who was an active member of his labor union. She saw firsthand how integral labor unions have been in the fight for decent working conditions, fair pay, and retirement security. Robbin was taught at an early age the value of hard work, which has carried on to her current successful law practice.

 

As a former Assistant District Attorney for Fulton County, Robbin prosecuted criminals in the division for crimes against women and children. Robbin has served as an Associate General Counsel for the Grady Health System where she specialized in Labor and Employment matters, taught Graduate School courses as an adjunct faculty member for St. Francis University, and lectured for continuing education courses to her legal colleagues in the area of Health Care Law.

 

Robbin presently holds membership in the Georgia Bar, Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA), and Gate City Bar. Additionally, Robbin is a past member of the State Bar of Georgia Investigative Panel and served on the State Bar’s Diversity Sub-committee. While in the Georgia General Assembly, Robbin served on the Judiciary, Labor and Industrial Relations, and State Planning and Community Affairs Committees.

 

As a single mother, Robbin has always felt compelled to lead by example for her daughter. Active in her community, Robbin served on the Board of the Reynoldstown Civic Improvement League and was a volunteer for special projects with Keep Atlanta Beautiful and neighborhood cleanups. She also set this example for her daughter by serving in the Cook Elementary School PTA and as a Board Member to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Campus ministry for the Atlanta University Center.

 

Robbin believes that Georgia must adopt policies which implement a livable wage standard for all everyone; that we should form public-private partnerships to engage innovative collaboration that leads to well-paying jobs for Georgians; and that unemployment benefits should be accessible to individuals for a minimum of 26 weeks. As our next Labor Commissioner, Robbin Shipp will ensure that all Georgians receive a Labor Department that works for every Georgian.

 

Find Robbin online at RobbinShippforLabor.com, like her Facebook page, and follow her on Twitter.

 

PS: Check out this story on how Robbin Shipp and others are making history. For the first time in Georgia’s history, there are five African American women on the statewide ballot.

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