More than 100,000 workers in Oregon haven’t seen a wage increase since 1996. We have one question: In six years, has the cost of rent, food or electricity increased?
Of course the cost of living has risen since 1996, and it only makes sense that the bare minimum the state allows workers to be paid rise along with it. We recommend that the University community vote yes on Measure 25, which would increase the minimum wage by 40 cents in January and then tie it to annual cost-of-living increases beginning in 2005.
Some people might think that the only people earning minimum wage are teenagers living at home. That is simply not true.
Currently, more than 60 percent of minimum wage workers are women. And 25 percent are single parents who have children to feed. Seventy-three percent of students over the age of 20 earn minimum wage. These people are the ones that need an increase the most; as it is, they are barely sliding by.
Most workers in Oregon aren’t earning minimum wage, so this measure wouldn’t affect them — or put their employers out of business, as opponents like to claim.
The people most affected by this bill are the people who need the most help just to survive, including students confronted with ever-increasing tuition and cost of housing and books.
Tying minimum wage to the actual cost of living makes sense and would avoid us having to write this editorial again in a few years. Vote yes on Measure 25.