Three years ago, Oregon voters passed Measure 25, which raised the minimum wage. Wisely, that voter initiative tied the minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index so that wages would continue to grow each year, keeping pace with cost of living increases.
But now Republican legislators are working with the Restaurant Association to undo that ballot measure, thereby lowering wages for restaurant workers. One bill would attack workers under 18 while lowering pay for employees who receive tips; another would decrease wages during so-called "training periods," essentially allowing employers to lower a worker's pay for several months while they perform the same amount of work.
"I believe people who are making minimum wage--the majority being women--are going to suffer from the whittling down of their ability to make ends meet," said first-term state representative Chip Shields (D-Portland). "It's appalling."
While Shields and other Democrats are working with the AFL-CIO to stop the bills from passing, the Restaurant Association is one of the most powerful lobby groups in the state. Three years ago, they raised over $500,000 to defeat Measure 25, outspending initiative proponents 2-1.
"Other states and the federal government have allowed minimum wage to fall behind the cost of living," points out Oregon AFL-CIO President Tim Nesbit. "Oregon minimum wage wouldn't be where it is if the voters hadn't decided on increasing it."
To combat the Republican bills, Democratic lawmakers and the AFL-CIO are spreading the word among service employees by leaving small cards along with tips in restaurants. Representative Shields says the cards urge people to "Call your legislator and fight living in poverty."
For more information or to contact lawmakers, go to www.oraflcio.org
