Economics

Oakland’s New Minimum Wage Takes Effect

Published

9 years ago

March 12, 2015

Voter-enacted ballot Measure FF, which raises the minimum wage in Oakland from $9 to $12.25/hour, became effective March 2.

The measure, which passed with an 82 percent majority in November, requires employers to provide paid sick leave and payment of service charges to hospitality workers who provide the service.

“Oaklanders’ overwhelming support for raising the minimum wage clearly indicates our community’s desire for workers in Oakland to earn a fair wage,” said Mayor Libby Schaaf.

“Oakland is proud to be a part of this movement to raise the minimum wage,” she continued.

Employees who perform at least two hours of work in a particular workweek within Oakland – including part-time, temporary and seasonal employees – must be paid at least the minimum wage.

“We believe in wage increases. It is good for employees,” said Chris Hillyard, General Manager/Co-owner of Farley’s in Oakland.

“This is the time to level the playing field,” he continued. Hillyard and his wife have operated Farley’s for six years offering quality coffee and food at affordable prices.

Measure FF requires employers to provide paid sick leave to any employee who performs at least two hours of work in a particular workweek within Oakland.

Kiara Gomez, an employee at Farley’s for two years, said, “I am happy about this. As a single mother, this will benefit me and my son in the future.”

Measure FF also requires that hospitality employers who collect service charges from customers must pay the entirety of those charges to the hospitality workers who perform those services for which the charge was collected.

“Raising the minimum wage was just the right thing to do, even though I am unsure of customer impact,” said Sal Bednarz, owner of Actual Café.

“This new minimum wage will strengthen the Oakland economy because workers will have a decent wage,” said Mayor Schaaf. “Fair wage food tastes better,” she added.

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Related Topics:Actual Cafe City of Oakland Farleys Mayor Libby Schaaf Measure FF minimum wage increase Oakland Oakland workers

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Business

Black Business Summit Focuses on Equity, Access and Data

The California African American Chamber of Commerce hosted its second annual “State of the California African American Economy Summit,” with the aim of bolstering Black economic influence through education and fellowship. Held Jan. 24 to Jan. 25 at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, the convention brought together some of the most influential Black business leaders, policy makers and economic thinkers in the state. The discussions focused on a wide range of economic topics pertinent to California’s African American business community, including policy, government contracts, and equity, and more.

Published

5 days ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

Toks Omishakin, Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency (CALSTA), answers questions from concerned entrepreneurs frustrated with a lack of follow-up from the state. January 24, 2024 at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, Lost Angeles, Calif. Photo by Solomon O. Smith

By Solomon O. Smith, California Black Media

The California African American Chamber of Commerce hosted its second annual “State of the California African American Economy Summit,” with the aim of bolstering Black economic influence through education and fellowship.

Held Jan. 24 to Jan. 25 at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, the convention brought together some of the most influential Black business leaders, policy makers and economic thinkers in the state. The discussions focused on a wide range of economic topics pertinent to California’s African American business community, including policy, government contracts, and equity, and more.

Toks Omishakin, Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency (CALSTA) was a guest at the event. He told attendees about his department’s efforts to increase access for Black business owners.

“One thing I’m taking away from this for sure is we’re going to have to do a better job of connecting through your chambers of all these opportunities of billions of dollars that are coming down the pike. I’m honestly disappointed that people don’t know, so we’ll do better,” said Omishakin.

Lueathel Seawood, the president of the African American Chamber of Commerce of San Joaquin County, expressed frustration with obtaining federal contracts for small businesses, and completing the process. She observed that once a small business was certified as DBE, a Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, there was little help getting to the next step.

Omishakin admitted there is more work to be done to help them complete the process and include them in upcoming projects. However, the high-speed rail system expansion by the California High-Speed Rail Authority has set a goal of 30% participation from small businesses — only 10 percent is set aside for DBE.

The importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in economics was reinforced during the “State of the California Economy” talk led by author and economist Julianne Malveaux, and Anthony Asadullah Samad, Executive Director of the Mervyn Dymally African American Political and Economic Institute (MDAAPEI) at California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Assaults on DEI disproportionately affect women of color and Black women, according to Malveaux. When asked what role the loss of DEI might serve in economics, she suggested a more sinister purpose.

“The genesis of all this is anti-blackness. So, your question about how this fits into the economy is economic exclusion, that essentially has been promoted as public policy,” said Malveaux.

The most anticipated speaker at the event was Janice Bryant Howroyd known affectionately to her peers as “JBH.” She is one of the first Black women to run and own a multi-billion-dollar company. Her company ActOne Group, is one of the largest, and most recognized, hiring, staffing and human resources firms in the world. She is the author of “Acting Up” and has a profile on Forbes.

Chairman of the board of directors of the California African American Chamber of Commerce, Timothy Alan Simon, a lawyer and the first Black Appointments Secretary in the Office of the Governor of California, moderated. They discussed the state of Black entrepreneurship in the country and Howroyd gave advice to other business owners.

“We look to inspire and educate,” said Howroyd. “Inspiration is great but when I’ve got people’s attention, I want to teach them something.”