Update: March 25, 2011

Oregon Per Capita Personal Income Continues to Rise

Oregon’s per capita personal income in 2010 continued its upward trend, rising 2 percent in inflation-adjusted terms over the past decade despite two recessions, according to the Oregon Center for Public Policy’s analysis of preliminary data released this week by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).

For 2010, Oregon’s per capita personal income was $37,095.

The BEA data show that Oregon’s big business lobby’s repeated claims that Oregon’s per capita personal income has been on a long term decline are false.

Read the news release Oregon Per Capita Personal Income Continues to Rise. Click here for a PDF copy.

Help Fight Against Wage Theft

A coalition of Oregonians has come together to fight a crime wave that is woefully underreported: wage theft.

Wage theft (PDF) occurs when employers pay workers less than the minimum wage, don't pay time-and-a-half for overtime hours, cheat on the hours worked, require employees to work off the clock, steal tips or don't pay workers at all.

It's a crime that robs workers and the economy.

The Coalition to Stop Wage Theft is backing several bills (PDF) that combat this crime.

The campaign is holding town halls in a number of communities in Oregon so that workers and honest businesses can share their stories and help the Legislature understand the problem. Here are the times and locations:

Woodburn: Thursday, March 31, 2011 (6 - 8 p.m.), at PCUN, 300 Young St (PDF of flyer).

Portland: Thursday, April 7, (6:30 - 8 p.m.), at Waverly Heights United Church of Christ, 3300 SE Woodward St.

Redmond: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 (6 - 8 p.m), at Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 290, 2161 SE 1st Street

For more information on the coalition go to www.facebook.com/ProtectOregonWorkers.