Oregon Ballot Measure 36 (1996)
Encyclopedia
Ballot Measure 36 of 1996 increased the U.S. state
of Oregon
's minimum wage
from $
4.75 to $6.50 over a three-year period. The measure was approved by voters in the 5 November 1996 general election
, with 769,725 votes in favor and 584,303 votes against. The measure was placed on the ballot as a result of initiative petition
.
Proponents of the measure included labor unions, the Oregon State Council of Senior Citizens and some religious groups. They argued that the previous minimum wage was not a living wage
, and that many minimum wage earners were trying to support families – see family wage
.
Opponents included business
es that employ minimum wage earners, among others. They argued that increasing the minimum wage would increase consumer prices, and increase unemployment
as employers would be able to hire fewer workers. They also pointed out that the U.S. Congress
had just passed a (smaller) increase to the federal
minimum wage.
In 2002, voters passed Measure 25
, which again increased the minimum wage. Measure 25 also tied future minimum wage increases to inflation.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
's minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
from $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
4.75 to $6.50 over a three-year period. The measure was approved by voters in the 5 November 1996 general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
, with 769,725 votes in favor and 584,303 votes against. The measure was placed on the ballot as a result of initiative petition
Initiative
In political science, an initiative is a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote...
.
Proponents of the measure included labor unions, the Oregon State Council of Senior Citizens and some religious groups. They argued that the previous minimum wage was not a living wage
Living wage
In public policy, a living wage is the minimum hourly income necessary for a worker to meet basic needs . These needs include shelter and other incidentals such as clothing and nutrition...
, and that many minimum wage earners were trying to support families – see family wage
Family wage
A family wage is a wage that is sufficient to raise a family on. This contrasts with a living wage, which is generally taken to mean a wage sufficient for a single individual to live on, but not necessarily sufficient to also support a family...
.
Opponents included business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
es that employ minimum wage earners, among others. They argued that increasing the minimum wage would increase consumer prices, and increase unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
as employers would be able to hire fewer workers. They also pointed out that the U.S. Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
had just passed a (smaller) increase to the federal
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
minimum wage.
In 2002, voters passed Measure 25
Oregon Ballot Measure 25 (2002)
Ballot Measure 25 of 2002 increased Oregon's minimum wage from $6.50 to $6.90 per hour and required an annual increase to compensate for inflation in future years. Inflation is measured by the consumer price index. , the minimum wage in Oregon is $8.50 an hour. The measure was approved in the...
, which again increased the minimum wage. Measure 25 also tied future minimum wage increases to inflation.
External links
- State Voter's Guide page for Measure 36--includes the text of the measure, and arguments for and against it