Portland Greens announce plan to seek $15 minimum wage

The Portland Green Independent Committee released a statement Thursday morning announcing their intentions to create a citizen’s initiative to establish a $15 per hour minimum wage in Maine’s largest city.

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Here’s the statement in full:

“The Portland Green Independent Committee will soon begin the process to create a living wage of $15 an hour for Portland workers via a citizens’ initiative.

Portland Mayor Mike Brennan. Photo- Joel Page, The Forecaster.

Portland Mayor Mike Brennan. Photo- Joel Page, The Forecaster.

Dismayed that the Mayor’s proposal for increasing the minimum wage will still leave many unable to participate in our vibrant economy and unable to afford the city’s skyrocketing cost of living, the Greens’ ordinance will create a true living wage for Portland’s working people.

 With this ordinance, the Greens aim to show that a higher minimum wage will not result in fewer jobs, but instead facilitate more money flowing through the local community, leading to job growth and an improved economy, as has happened in other parts of the country where minimum wage increases have passed.

There are currently two working proposals that approach the way in which this wage increase will be applied. There will be a meeting in room 24 at city hall, Wednesday, March 11th at 5:30, where the PGIC will finalize the details. Public and Press are welcome to attend.”

Chris Shorr

About Chris Shorr

Chris is a sixth generation Portlander who loves all things Maine. He has worked with mentally ill and marginalized adults at a Portland non-profit, on a lobster boat in Casco Bay, at several high-end Portland restaurants, and at a local meat packing plant. He also ran for Portland City Council in 2013, wrote a weekly column in the now defunct Portland Daily Sun, and currently writes a weekly column in The Portland Phoenix.