Efforts to Raise Portland’s Minimum Wage Gain Momentum

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Brendan Murray, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Organizers and activists working to raise Portland’s minimum wage to $15 an hour told GoLocal that the movement is gaining momentum and that they believe a change could be coming soon, citing growing support from city residents and leaders.

“This is definitely a moment for our movement,” Justin Norton-Kertson, media chair for 15 Now PDX, told GoLocal. “We’re getting a lot of support from different leaders and groups throughout the city."

Norton-Kertson also cited recent decisions by the Portland City Council, which voted to provide a $15 an hour minimum wage for all full-time City workers and contracted workers, and the City of Milwaukie, which recently guaranteed a $15 minimum wage for all city workers.

SEE SLIDES BELOW: See some of the hundreds of protesters that marched through Portland, demanding a $15 minimum wage.

“People are calling for good jobs and living wages in Portland,” Norton-Kertson said. “They deserve to have their voice heard.”

Workers March

On Tuesday, hundreds of workers marched through the streets of Portland to demand a higher minimum wage, joining marchers in more than 270 cities throughout the United States. Christine Eckert, a home care worker, said she was marching in order to raise awareness of low wages in Portland and throughout the state.

“I am fighting for $15 because wages are so low for home care workers that some of us can barely afford the cost of transportation to our jobs, let alone rent on decent places to live,” Eckert said.

Nancy Hernandez, a custodian in downtown Portland, said the march was “empowering.”

“It is empowering to see millions standing together today for good union jobs and a fair minimum wage,” Hernandez said. “It demonstrates how tired and fed up our communities are with a wealthy few making millions of dollars while working families continue to be left behind.”

Momentum Grows, But More Work Needed

As GoLocal reported, efforts to raise the minimum wage have received backing from Mayor Charlie Hales and the leading candidate to replace him as Mayor, State Treasurer Ted Wheeler, as well as the Portland City Club. Norton-Kertson cited those endorsements, saying that the movement is carrying more momentum than it ever has before.

“This is certainly the best spot I think we’ve been in,” Norton-Kertson said. “We’ve received support from Mayor Charlie Hales, from Ted Wheeler, and from the City Club, so we are stronger now than we have ever been.”

Despite the movement’s strength, Norton-Kertson said there was still a lot more work left to be done. First and foremost, he said, is changing Oregon state laws that prevent the City of Portland for raising its minimum wage.

“What is really important now is to get the preemption laws repealed,” Norton-Kertson said. “Those prevent cities in Oregon from raising the minimum wage above the state level. As long as those laws are on the books, there is nothing that an individual city like Portland can do.”

Not Everyone is On Board

Sandra McDonough, President and CEO of the Portland Business Alliance, told GoLocal the Alliance does not support local municipalities like the city of Portland setting a different wage.

“Minimum wage impacts communities across Oregon, so we think it makes sense that a comprehensive policy be set by the Legislature rather than city by city,” McDonough said. “We are prepared to be part of a collaborative discussion about minimum wage with the Legislature in 2016."

Anthony K. Smith, director of the Oregon chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business, said that raising the minimum wage would have a negative impact on businesses in the area, forcing them to reduce hours or jobs.

“Small business owners across sectors are likely to suffer even more from rising labor costs, which will force owners to move operations to places with lower wages, or else cut jobs and worker hours,” Smith said. “The rising push towards minimum wages is a top threat to US small businesses.”

Related Slideshow: Hundreds March for $15 Minimum Wage in Downtown PDX

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Hundreds of protestors marched through the streets of downtown Portland on Tuesday, demanding an increase to the minimum wage.

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Protesters came dressed to impress as part of the protests "Day of the Dead" theme.

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Marchers in Portland joined protesters inn 270 cities across the nation today, tens of thousands of low-wage workers rallied with supporters to demand good union jobs and a fair $15 minimum wage.

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Hundreds, including janitors, homecare workers, parks and recreation center workers and supporters gathered downtown to call on local employers to provide good jobs and a liveable minimum wage.

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Members of SEIU Local 49 joined protesters on Tuesday to call for a $15 an hour minimum wage.

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Protesters called on employers to increase wages to $15 an hour for at least 30,000 low-wage workers in the Portland area by 2017, organized by a coalition of faith, labor, community, and student organizations, coordinated by Portland Jobs with Justice.

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Protesters like Christine Eckert, a home care worker, said they were fighting for an increase to the minimum wage "because wages are so low for home care workers that some of us can barely afford the cost of transportation to our jobs, let alone rent on decent places to live."