Post by blackcrowheart on Oct 17, 2006 14:13:45 GMT -5
Creek Nation increases minimum wage
By AP Wire Services
10/13/2006
www.tulsaworld.com/NewsStory.asp?ID=061013_Ne_A16_Creek14403
<http://www.tulsaworld.com/NewsStory.asp?ID=061013_Ne_A16_Creek14403>
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Muscogee (Creek) Nation has raised its hourly
minimum wage to $7.67, giving a raise of more than a dollar an hour to
the tribe's lowest-paid employees.
Before the increase, the tribe could pay workers as little as $5.15,
which is the state and federal minimum wage, but most of its employees
were paid at least $6 an hour.
Principal Chief A.D. Ellis said Tuesday that the raise, approved by
tribal leaders last week, is intended to help with employee retention.
The pay increase will be reflected in the next check sent to employees.
Christine Denny, supervisor of the tribe's child development center in
Tulsa, said the pay increase is overdue.
"It's long deserved, and I'm really glad they got it," Denny said.
"Especially for the type of work they're doing.
"No one really understands the type of work we do," she said. "I know
the people I work with. They deserve it. They work really hard, and I'm
glad to see they are finally being compensated."
Although the tribe employs about 3,000 people, Ellis estimated that only
about 100 people, including some child-care workers, janitors and
maintenance employees, were being paid less than $7.67 before the
increase was approved.
<http://adserver.tulsaworld.com/?RC=25000181&AI=762&RANDOM=1303294198744\
95> <http://adserver.tulsaworld.com/?SHT=NewsStory_336x280> "They
(child-care and Head Start employees) take care of our babies and young
people," Ellis said. "There's such a high turnover at that salary; maybe
people will stay here now."
The Creek Nation has six child development centers within the tribe's
jurisdiction -- in Tulsa, Sapulpa, Okmulgee, Eufaula, Okemah and
Holdenville.
Ellis said he hopes that the tribe will be able to increase the minimum
wage to $10 an hour within two years.
The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council passed a minimum wage measure last
month that would have raised the wage to $8 an hour, but Principal Chief
Chad Smith vetoed the law.
Smith said he supports a minimum wage increase but would rather the
tribe phase in the raises.
Chickasaw Nation spokeswoman Robyn Elliot said that tribe has a minimum
wage of $5.35 an hour for summer interns and summer youth employees but
that most tribal employees start at $7 an hour.
By AP Wire Services
10/13/2006
www.tulsaworld.com/NewsStory.asp?ID=061013_Ne_A16_Creek14403
<http://www.tulsaworld.com/NewsStory.asp?ID=061013_Ne_A16_Creek14403>
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Muscogee (Creek) Nation has raised its hourly
minimum wage to $7.67, giving a raise of more than a dollar an hour to
the tribe's lowest-paid employees.
Before the increase, the tribe could pay workers as little as $5.15,
which is the state and federal minimum wage, but most of its employees
were paid at least $6 an hour.
Principal Chief A.D. Ellis said Tuesday that the raise, approved by
tribal leaders last week, is intended to help with employee retention.
The pay increase will be reflected in the next check sent to employees.
Christine Denny, supervisor of the tribe's child development center in
Tulsa, said the pay increase is overdue.
"It's long deserved, and I'm really glad they got it," Denny said.
"Especially for the type of work they're doing.
"No one really understands the type of work we do," she said. "I know
the people I work with. They deserve it. They work really hard, and I'm
glad to see they are finally being compensated."
Although the tribe employs about 3,000 people, Ellis estimated that only
about 100 people, including some child-care workers, janitors and
maintenance employees, were being paid less than $7.67 before the
increase was approved.
<http://adserver.tulsaworld.com/?RC=25000181&AI=762&RANDOM=1303294198744\
95> <http://adserver.tulsaworld.com/?SHT=NewsStory_336x280> "They
(child-care and Head Start employees) take care of our babies and young
people," Ellis said. "There's such a high turnover at that salary; maybe
people will stay here now."
The Creek Nation has six child development centers within the tribe's
jurisdiction -- in Tulsa, Sapulpa, Okmulgee, Eufaula, Okemah and
Holdenville.
Ellis said he hopes that the tribe will be able to increase the minimum
wage to $10 an hour within two years.
The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council passed a minimum wage measure last
month that would have raised the wage to $8 an hour, but Principal Chief
Chad Smith vetoed the law.
Smith said he supports a minimum wage increase but would rather the
tribe phase in the raises.
Chickasaw Nation spokeswoman Robyn Elliot said that tribe has a minimum
wage of $5.35 an hour for summer interns and summer youth employees but
that most tribal employees start at $7 an hour.