|
Gov. Kate Brown poses with the newly signed minimum wage measure. To her right are Berely Mack of Local 1246 (SACU) and Oregon AFSCME President Jeff Klatke. |
|
Oregon’s lowest-paid workers will soon be getting a raise thanks to the efforts of our union in coalition with dozens of other labor and community groups, as Gov. Kate Brown signed the new minimum wage bill into law.
Oregon AFSCME President Jeff Klatke, who represented our union at the signing ceremony, called it “a great day for hard-working Oregonians.”
VIDEO — WATCH JEFF KLATKE TALK ABOUT IMPACTS OF THE NEW MINIMUM WAGE
“We’re proud to have been involved in this effort,” says Klatke. “We’ve already done great things in our locals, negotiating $15 minimum wages — and higher — and this legislation will accelerate that process and give us extra leverage.”
SB 1532 creates a three-tier minimum wage in the state. Those within the Portland Urban Growth Boundary will receive the highest compensation, reflecting greater Portland’s higher average cost-of-living. Mid-level counties make up the second tier, while so-called “frontier” areas of sparsely populated counties are the third tier.
The first raises kick in on July 1, with the Portland-area minimum wage jumping to $9.75 and the other two tiers bumping up to $9.50. The current Oregon minimum wage is $9.25. SB 1532 is a six-year plan that would top out in 2022 at $14.75 inside Portland's UGB, $13.25 in the mid-size counties and $12.50 in the extremely rural areas.
Council 75 Political Director Joe Baessler said he’s pleased to see a legislative solution, rather than the possibility of competing minimum wage ballot measures on the November election ballot.
|