Portland’s $15 Minimum Wage

Jennifer Polanz

During the GCA Summer Tour in Portland at the end of June, Jeff Stone, executive director/CEO of the Oregon Association of Nurseries, spoke about the statewide $15 minimum wage bill passed in March. That group is continuing to address the impacts of the bill, which will incrementally increase the minimum wage each July for the next six years.

Jeff told the rapt audience that the jury was still out on the impact: “We’re not seeing the job loss … but we’re also not seeing the buying power from people making $15 an hour.” The first increase just happened this month, but Jeff believes it could have a detrimental effect on small businesses like the nurseries he represents.

However, the OAN has decided the fight is not in the number (the $15, which can be polarizing), but rather in the why of the debate. Jeff says many want the higher minimum wage to address the issue of poverty in the state, despite the fact Oregon’s $9.25/hour was already one of the highest in the country and there’s still widespread poverty. Those are the conversations that are going to be meaningful, he said, not ones that merely attack the $15 minimum wage.

“I encourage you to get deep into this issue and talk about why we’re talking about this,” he told the crowd, who relayed their concerns about a higher minimum wage coming to their areas. He added the 15 Now group that helped push the wage hike in Oregon is becoming a national movement, so these conversations need to happen quickly.

Is this happening in your state? Would you settle for $10, which many believe is the most reasonable alternative for the Federal minimum? Let us know by emailing jpolanz@ballpublishing.com.