Voters in Portland say “no” to raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour.
It was small business owners that have really been vocal saying a $15 minimum wage is too much, too fast.And voters clearly agreed, voting against it.
You'll remember the ordinance called for businesses with over 500 employees to implement a $15 an hour min. wage by 2017. Businesses with less than 500 employees would have had till 2019. Supporters are at Bayside Bowl tonight and say even though these aren't the results they wanted, their mission isn't over.
"Quite disappointing, unexpected, a setback,” Spokesperson Mako Bates said. “We will have another opportunity next year there will be a state wide initiative that will bring entire state to 12 hour min wage but not strictly enough for Portland.”
Even though this didn't pass, don't forget earlier this year the city council did pass a referendum to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. That increase begins Jan. 1st, and officials say when it goes into effect, Portland will have the seventh highest minimum wage in the nation.
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