Employment and Livable Wages

It’s a simple fact, the minimum wage has drastically not kept up with the cost of living.  Americans should not have to work two or three jobs and still be under the poverty line.

I will be a U.S. Representative who listens to Labor, champions Davis-Bacon prevailing wage legislation and works hard to strengthen Labor Unions in Oregon. I will work with labor unions to help improve wage parity, provide employment and economic opportunity, and safe working conditions.

I will vote to raise the national minimum wage to $15.00 per hour. No exceptions.  I also support federal legislation to increase the minimum wage higher in market areas where, cost of childcare, housing, transportation, healthcare and overall costs of living are higher.  I will work with organized labor to come up with a fair formula for legislation.

I believe if large and small businesses cannot afford to pay their entry level employees a livable $15 minimum wage, their basic business plan is not realistic. I don’t believe we have a labor shortage. We have a surplus of businesses taking advantage of their workers.

As a third-generation union member, and a current member of Service Employees International Union Local 503, I will support organized labor in providing a livable wage, increase worker benefits and protections, increase paid family and medical leave, adopt Election Day as a partial paid holiday and alter work-place safety standards to address pandemics and the dynamic temperature increases and severe weather events of our changing climate.

I will not cross a picket line.