Rep. Shields Hears from Community on Living Wage Jobs

Sam Brooks of OAME and Tom Chamberlain of AFL-CIO participate also

2/15/06 - Portland, Ore. - Over 75 people came together at State Rep. Chip Shields’ first town hall meeting of 2006 last Wednesday night to discuss creating living wage jobs in North and Northeast Portland. Constituents, business leaders and social service providers shared comments and concerns with Rep. Shields and guests, Tom Chamberlain, president of the Oregon AFL-CIO, and Sam Brooks, president of OAME (Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs).

In his opening remarks, Rep. Shields shared why citizens of District 43 (North and Northeast Portland) are in a good position to find and keep living wage jobs. He cited the district's proximity to the industrial areas of Rivergate, Swan Island, Airport Way and the Columbia Corridor.

But Shields also added, "I see far too many Washington license plates in those parking lots. We need to make sure that people who live in North and Northeast Portland, particularly women and people of color, have a fair shot at these jobs."

The two guest speakers, Sam Brooks and Tom Chamberlain, spoke from their unique perspectives regarding living wages jobs. Brooks, president of OAME, talked about need to create and support small businesses, focusing on education and the need for better schools to create a more skilled workforce in the area.

Chamberlain, president of Oregon AFL-CIO, addressed the loss of living wage jobs resulting from unfair trade policies and the corporate race-to-the-bottom. "Good employers, those that ensure their workers get decent wages and benefits, need to speak up when trade policies and bad corporate behavior make it difficult to compete. All too often, these employers sit on the sidelines," Chamberlain said.

Community and legislative solutions that were discussed include: "Hire Oregon First" legislation, protection of Oregon's minimum wage law, new technologies such as biofuels, full funding of education, and minimum standards of health benefits provided by large employers like Walmart.

This was one in a series of Community Forums over the next several months on issues critical to residents of House District 43. Future forums will cover: the war in Iraq; health care; and schools.

The next forum, scheduled for March 8 is on the Iraq War: A Local Response (March 8, 6:30-8 pm, Emmanuel Temple Church, 5123 N. Michigan).

Forums on Health Care (March 22) and Schools (April 5) are also planned. For more information, visit Rep. Shields’ website at www.leg.state.or.us/shieldsc or call 231-2564.