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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 2011)
September2i, 2011______________ Minority & Small Business Week_____________________Pjge 13 Lowest Wage to Rise continued from fron t businesses is never easy. “T im es are h ard e n o u g h ,” M cM urtry said. “I believe everyone should get paid for the work they do,” she said. “ But if m inim um wage were not quite as high, then the em ployer would have more latitude to reward good w orkers.” O re g o n 's c u rre n t m inim um wage is the nation's second high est, trailin g only W ashington $8.67 minimum hourly wage. The state is also one of 18 states plus the D istrict of Colum bia that have a minimum wage above the federal m inim um wage of $7.25 per hour, which is not scheduled to in crease. Even though O regon has a higher m inim um wage than other states, it is not enough to prevent poverty am ong som e w orking families. Sheketoff said at $8.80 an hour, a full-time minimum wage worker will earn $18,304, still below the 2011 federal poverty guideline for a family of three ($ 18,530). He said the Oregon m inim um wage, how ever, does lift one- and two-per- proportion of individuals working in or at minimum wage,” he said. Estabrook explained, in any in dustry where you are working on thin margins and depend more on volume, planning ahead is essential to deal with the increasing minimum wage, and some businesses may be better able to adjust than others. He said, however, they under stand these businesses are feeling the pinch in terms of other costs, including the increase of the Con sumer Price Index in one year, which not only affects working families, but also business entrepreneurs. “Obviously it is not as simple as raising prices,” he said. Tuan Huynh Ba, the owner of T uan’s 76 Auto Service at 33rd A venue and N o rth e a s t K illingsw orth, said the rise in wages will definitely affect his business. “I don’t know if I can afford it. 1 c an ’t raise the price of gas,” he said. While increased wages is a posi tive for those who have jobs, he asked, w hat about those who don’t? “My garage, business has slow ed dow n because people c an ’t afford to fix their car be cause they don’t have jo b s,” he The annual adjustment of our state minimum wage is designed to account for inflation and prices, so someone making minimum wage is not progressively losing the value in their wages based on inflation. — Bob Estabrook, communications director for the state bureau son fam ilies out of poverty. "Oregonians were smart to raise the m inim um wage and keep it from being eroded by inflation," he said. "Oregon’s minimum wage system helps fight poverty and incom e inequality and is a model for the nation." According to Avakian, minimum wage laws are essential to ensure workers and families can maintain their purchasing pow er, which keeps the local economy afloat. Although, he said, five out of six employers within Oregon don’t offer m inimum wage jobs, future dialogue is necessary with busi nesses, and m any sm all b u si nesses that do. “ U nderstanding their challenges,” he said, “will benefit our entire econom y.” Bob Estabrook, the communica tions director for the state bureau, said the impact of the minimum wage increase on entrepreneurs is not as simple as saying small businesses could be hurt and large businesses will be in the clear. “You have to look at a particular workforce a business has; this is especially true for the food and bev erage industry, which has a larger said. “The rise in prices has af fected everybody.” According to Estabrook, infla tion and a rise in prices does not come as a surprise to the general population. “I think most folks generally recognize the cost has been going up and inflation is happening,” he said. “The annual adjustm ent of our state m inim um wage is de signed to account for inflation and prices, so someone making m inimum wage is not progres sively losing the value in their wages based on inflation.” Like Avakian, Estabrook em phasized the im portance of m ain taining dialogue with businesses, especially small businesses, and he said entrepreneurs, through B O LI’s Technical Assistance for Employers Program, are invited to call with questions, concerns and challenges they are facing. Revised minimum wage posters reflecting the new rate will also be available for free download from BOLI’s website in December. That site, which includes additional in formation about all of BOLL s activi ties, is Oregon.gov/BOLI. Physical Activity to Fight Obesity First lady Michelle Obama hits a tennis ball to highlight the importance of physical activity for kids at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York during the U.S. Open earlier this month. Mrs. Obama has been campaigning against childhood obesity and praised the U.S. Tennis Association's initiative to build kid-sized courts. (AP photo) Obama on Fire over Jobs, Taxes c o n t i n u e d f r o m front gency workers. On Monday, Obama spelled out a long-term debt stabilizing plan that aims to cut the deficit by about $3 trillion over 10 years. Obama is making his proposal to a special congressional committee that has been charged with lowering deficit by $ 1.2 trillion to $ 1.5 trillion. "But right now, we've got to get Congress to pass this jobs bill," Obama said. Obama's jobs plan has received a tepid reception from Republicans, who are willing to consider some of his tax relief proposals, but not his spending plans. His proposal to pay for the plan with limits on tax deductions and closing corporate tax loopholes is facing stiff GOP resistance, and even Democrats have pushed back on some of those provisions in the past. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said simply approving tax cuts without including spending on public works and local and state govern ment assistance would not do enough to spur the economy. T a k e th e W ? Take President Barack Obama "To take one piece or another, it doesn't create the dynamism we need," she said. Rep. Peter Roskam of Illinois called on Obama to reduce regulations on businesses, saying govern ment agency rules were choking off hiring. "Wash ington has become a red tape factory," he said. He pressed Obama to push the Democratic-con- trolled Senate to adopt House Republican initiatives, including legislation that would give Congress veto power over certain high-cost regulations. Every Tuesday 5 :3 0 - 7:15 p m fust w a lk in Northeast Health Center 5329 NE MLK Jr. Blvd. 2nd Floor Bring or mention this ad to get a FREE & ANONYMOUS or CONFIDENTIAL test for HIV! Public Health
