Tupelo Honey is touted as an Asheville success story. But some workers say that hides a reality of wage cuts and worsening conditions. Now they’re pushing back Above: Tupelo Honey’s original downtown location UPDATE, Jan. 11: Following the public campaign and Blade investigation, wage cuts for Tupelo Honey support staff

Federal statistics puncture myths about Asheville’s wages, which are staying stagnant, rising slowly or even declining in key sectors as the cost of living sharply increases Above: The skyline of downtown Asheville. Photo by Max Cooper. Every May, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics releases detailed breakdowns of pay for