Wages

HB 3205 Compensation without discrimination

Posted on May 10, 2023 by dbleiler | 0 Comments

This bill modifies definition of “compensation,” for purposes of pay equity requirements, to exclude hiring bonuses and retention bonuses. Amendment -3 states: “An employer may pay employees for work of comparable character at different compensation levels pursuant to a signing, hiring or retention bonus, provided the employer does not discriminate between employees on the basis of a protected class in…

HB 2058 Agriculture overtime award

Posted on February 17, 2023 by dbleiler | 0 Comments

This bill requires Oregon Business Development Department (OBDD) to administer a repayable award program for certain agricultural employers required to pay overtime wages under HB 4002 (2022). The employers must expect to have less than $3 million in annual gross income, be eligible for the tax credit for agricultural overtime pay allowed under section 8, chapter 115, Oregon Laws 2022,…

SB 853A bans out-of-state commuting reimbursement

Posted on February 3, 2023 by dbleiler | 3 Comments

This bill as Amended prohibits state payment of travel costs to and from Oregon for state employees who telecommute from a principal work site located more than sixty miles from border of Oregon unless authorized under terms of a collective bargaining agreement. SB 853 A provides an exemption for telecommuting employees whose position necessitates them working from a principal work…

HB 2738 Establishes a floor income

Posted on January 20, 2023 by dbleiler | 1 Comments

This bill requires Department of Human Services to study and recommend how to implement a guaranteed income program in this state. The bill states that it is interested in “a program that provides an unrestricted and unconditional cash payment to individuals who are members of a targeted population to meet basic needs…” That means these “unrestricted” and “unconditional” funds could offset expenses in order to…

SB 1566 Increases legislator’s salary

Posted on June 20, 2022 by BJ

VOTE:NO
Died in committee

HB 4002 Overtime pay for agricultural workers

Posted on April 15, 2022 by BJ

VOTE: NO
Signed into law by Gov Brown

HB 4004 Reimburses behavioral health providers

Posted on March 23, 2022 by BJ

VOTE: NO
Signed into law by Gov Brown
Emergency Clause used

Democrat Lawmakers Quit Because They Didn’t Get Their Way

Posted on March 2, 2022 by BJ | 0 Comments

Three members of the legislature in Oregon announced this week they’re quitting . [The three state representatives, Karin Power, Rachel Prusak, and Anna Williams]. The reason they give is telling. They say it’s a full time job with part time pay. This kind of whining makes me sick. The average Oregonian makes 55-thousand a year. State lawmakers make 33-thousand, plus…

Bill that would require higher OT for Oregon farmworkers lives another day

Posted on February 15, 2022 by BJ | 0 Comments

A proposal to require higher overtime wages for Oregon farmworkers will remain in play for the rest of the 2022 legislative session. The House Business and Labor Committee has voted 7-4 to refer House Bill 4002 to the House Revenue Committee, which isn’t subject to legislative deadlines that cull proposed legislation. “I will continue to advocate for its passage because…

HB 3144 Increases Legislators salary

Posted on June 26, 2021 by BJ

VOTE:NO
Died In Committee

SB 424 changes assistant attorney general base pay

Posted on June 1, 2021 by BJ

VOTE:NO
Signed into Law by Gov Brown

SB 493 Setting of prevailing wage for trades

Posted on May 26, 2021 by BJ

SB 493 VOTE: NO Signed into Law by Gov Brown on May 26, 2021 Status (overview) of bill: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2021R1/Measures/Overview/SB493 This bill changes how the prevailing wage for trade or occupation in a locality is set to be the highest rate of wage among collective bargaining agreements for trade or occupation in locality. Personal Choice and Responsibility Prevailing wages for public…

Kate Brown Announces More Staffing Additions

Posted on February 5, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Governor Kate Brown has announced several staffing changes, including the appointment of See Eun (pronounced “she-in”) Kim as executive appointments director, effective February 9. In this role, she will engage with a variety of stakeholder groups across the state to identify qualified candidates to serve on Oregon’s more than 250 boards and commissions, while balancing their needs and goals with…

Government raises outpace all others in pandemic

Posted on February 2, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

The Oregon Employment Department reports that the largest gain in median wage during the pandemic was the local government sector at $3.23 hour gain. Compare that to three otehr (sic) industries (transportation, utilities, warehouse) which saw a 20-cent gain. The other services industry average gain was $3.19 per hour and the information industry average gain was $3.15 per hour. For…