What is a living wage?

In Multnomah County, a Living Wage for a single person with no dependents in 2024 is $26.45/hour (MIT Living Wage Calculator). People’s Food Co-op currently pays a starting wage of $17.68/hour, plus competitive benefits. MIT defines a living wage as, “what one full-time worker must earn on an hourly basis to help cover the cost of their family's minimum basic needs where they live while still being self-sufficient.” Inflation as well as rising rent and housing costs have contributed to a significant living wage increase in Portland. 

Why isn’t people’s paying a living wage now?

Inflation and the rising costs of living* have made it impossible for People’s to pay a living wage while also keeping the co-op sustainable, affordable, and profitable. Efficiency and budget cuts alone cannot bridge the gap between our starting wage and a living wage, making it impossible to achieve without compromising the Co-op's integrity. This challenge is not unique to People’s – the sudden, sharp increases in the cost of living, as well as rapid increases to the cost of grocery goods, affects co-ops and grocery stores across the industry.

What are some impacts of not paying a living wage?

The effects of failing to pay a living wage extend beyond the individuals who comprise our staff. Wage deficiency also impacts the well-being and sustainability of the co-op itself. To name a few, the impacts include: high turnover, difficulty in recruitment and retention, loss of institutional knowledge, loss of experienced and skilled workers, and difficulty in meeting goals of creating and sustaining an inclusive and diverse workforce when wages paid are not able to keep up with the cost of living.

How will this campaign help?

This is an ongoing campaign, and your contributions will be paid out to directly to our workers. Our Collective Management has created a formula for payouts that will prioritize our lower paid workers first. 

Of course, this isn’t the only way you can support this effort – shopping at the Co-op is the best way to support our community, and our workers in particular. Shop co-ops first! Please ask your friends and neighbors to shop at People’s as well!

Support People’s Living Wage Fund with a one-time or recurring monthly contribution at the link below!