Salem, Ore. – Governor Kate Brown signed legislation Wednesday to increase Oregon’s minimum wage. Senate Bill 1532 will raise Oregon’s minimum wage over six years, with different rates set in three different regions. The law takes effect July 1st with a 50-cent increase.
The first tier is the base wage, which is now $9.25 and will increase to $13.50 by 2022. The second tier is the Portland wage, which will increase to $14.75 by 2022. The third tier is the rural wage which will increase to $12.50 by 2022. After 2022, the base wage will be adjusted for inflation, with the Portland wage tied $1.25 above and the rural wage $1 below the base wage.
“Our coalition formed over a year ago and we expanded our efforts after legislators took no action to raise wages in the 2015 session. We were united by the common belief that no one who works hard should struggle to feed their family or pay their bills, and we were determined to secure a raise for workers in 2016.“After months of hearings, meetings, the filing of three ballot measures, and grassroots action, our elected leaders listened and took bold action last month in the face of intense lobbying from big business with a vested interest in maintaining the status quo.“While Senate Bill 1532 is not everything we had hoped for, it does represent significant progress for workers and their families, and will set hundreds of thousands of Oregonians back on the path to self-sufficiency as the raise is phased in over the next six years.“Most significantly, this law recognizes that whether they work in a field or a factory, at a small business or a large one, or are just starting out in their career, all Oregonians deserve a wage that allows them to better afford the basics, no exceptions.“We are proud to say that Oregon has once again positioned itself as a national leader by enacting a policy that is good for workers, for families, and for the economy.”Comment from Anthony K. Smith, Oregon state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, on Gov. Kate Brown’s signing today of Senate Bill 1532 A, raising the state’s minimum-wage rates in phases and by regions:“Governor Brown’s signing of Senate Bill 1532 was expected, but what was also expected was her strong opposition to the remaining campaign still gathering signatures for the November ballot that would spike the minimum wage to $15 per hour. We didn’t hear that today.“It’s bad enough that this unfortunate law will prompt small-business owners to halt hiring, start cutting back hours for workers, start eliminating overtime, or even make layoffs, but her silence on the ballot initiative only adds to the anxiety Oregon’s entrepreneurs are already experiencing.
“Oregon’s small businesses need to know where their governor stands. We urge Governor Brown to publicly, loudly and repeatedly oppose any and all efforts to further increase the minimum wage.”
