Portland City Council reinstates fair wage policy for city service contracts

The Portland City Council meeting on May 8, 2025, focused on the reinstatement of the city's fair wage policy for certain service contracts. The ordinance, identified as document number 2025-10070, was discussed following its referral from the Labor Workforce Development Committee, where it received unanimous support.

Ashley Hernandez, staff for the committee, provided an overview of the ordinance, which sets the hourly wage for city service contracts at $19.80 for the fiscal year 2024-2025. This rate will adjust to $19.80 in the following fiscal year based on the cost of living index. The ordinance aims to restore a fair wage policy that had been removed during a previous code revision in late 2024, which eliminated what was deemed duplicative code, including the longstanding fair wage policy.

Councilor Dunphy, who introduced the ordinance, emphasized the importance of reinstating the policy to ensure that city contractors and employees receive fair compensation. He noted that many city bureaus were unaware that the policy had been removed, indicating a lack of communication regarding the changes.

Public testimony was provided by two union members, Maria Flores and Gloria Hernandez, who shared personal experiences highlighting the positive impact of the fair wage policy on their lives and families. Both emphasized that fair wages not only recognize their hard work but also provide stability and security for their futures.

The council members expressed gratitude to the SEIU union for bringing the issue to their attention and acknowledged the importance of reinstating the policy before the upcoming budget discussions. The ordinance will be scheduled for a vote at the next council meeting, marking a significant step towards ensuring fair wages for city workers.