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What is the minimum hourly wage in Oregon and in Medford? And is the city empowered to increase that rate if it so desires? I note that many forward-looking cities have increased minimum wages within their boundaries with excellent results. Can our city council enact such or does it require a ballot measure? — Edward C., Medford Oregon’s minimum wage, statewide, has been $6.50 per hour since Jan. 1, 1999, when the last of a three-step increase took effect. That increase, as you probably remember Ed, was required by a ballot measure passed in 1996. It gave Oregon the highest minimum wage in the nation. But raising the minimum wage doesn’t always take a ballot measure; Congress or the Legislature can raise it, too. According to the state Department of Labor, with a couple exceptions all workers must be paid the minimum wage. There are no sub-minimum wage rates for trainees or minors, although there are some special provisions for student-learners and disabled workers. And bosses can’t use tips as credit toward minimum wages. Your question really addresses the bigger picture. You may be familiar with the effort by Oregon Action, including its Rogue Valley affiliate, to focus attention on the gap between the minimum wage and what the group calls a "living wage." That "living wage" is much higher than the minimum wage. A study done for the group last year estimated the "living wage" at about $10 per hour for singles and almost $18 for a family of four. The group argues that the loss of manufacturing jobs and the trend toward retail and part-time employment means working-class wages haven’t kept pace, despite a booming economy. Also, many part-time jobs come with fewer benefits, such as medical insurance. The group has lobbied local governments for action, but not to impose wages on all employers in a town or a county. They’ve asked that governments contract only with companies that pay living wages, and encourage economic development policies that focus on employers that offer such wages. In 1998, Multnomah County adopted a policy requiring new contractors for custodial and security services to pay at least $9 an hour, and to continuing to adjust for cost of living.
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Can the minimum wage be adjusted?