Oregon’s Path to Worker Freedom: Alan Jernigan on Newsmakers at Noon
The key finding the report is that people and businesses want the freedom to choose their own path.
In a recent interview on Newsmakers at Noon, ALEC Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force Manager Alan Jernigan joined co-hosts Denise Quinn and Hunter Newton to discuss Oregon’s troubling 48th-place ranking in the newly released States That Work: A Labor Policy Roadmap Across America.
Jernigan pointed to the state’s minimum wage policy and occupational licensing process as opportunities for improvement within the state:
“Raising the minimum wage, it restricts businesses opportunities to give more opportunities to workers, especially those in the entry level world,” he said. “While it may seem great, it’s one of those things that becomes a double edged sword.”
When Quinn asked Jernigan about the exodus of people leaving Oregon, Jernigan said the ranking speaks for itself.
“I think that’s really telling, you know, just kind of looking at the ranking and seeing that there are so many kinds of preferred labor landscapes across the country that it’s no surprise that businesses are choosing those places that prioritize themselves and their workers.”
Asked what solutions might help Oregon improve their ranking, Jernigan said it starts with a mindset shift.
“The key is kind of going back to that worker freedom point, just giving the workers the flexibility to choose their work arrangement, kind of the choices of what they do with their salary, and really just having the choice and freedom to go and do what’s best for them and their family.”
Jernigan further explained the importance occupational licensing plays when people decide to move from one state to another.
“It’s not automatically recognized. And that can, you know, especially for those they’re moving to start over and all that, that can be a really difficult process and really slow down their ability to get back working and start contributing to the economy in the community.”
Newton then asked whether Oregon’s leadership may be driving away workers who prefer not to unionize. Jernigan explains that it all comes down to choice.
“Workers deserve the choice of association. If they want to be involved, you should have that, right. But if they don’t want to, and don’t want their money going towards that cause, they should also have the opportunity to opt out and choose the path that’s best for them. So that’s definitely a trend. And, you know, looking across the states, there are 26 Right to Work states across the country, and the lowest any of those states ranked in this report was 28 so it’s truly telling that just that alone is really kind of separates pro worker states from the rest.”
When asked what specifically led to Oregon’s low ranking, Jernigan says that failure comes down to a lack of freedom and opportunity.
“So, one of the biggest goals with the report was to do an overall snapshot, not just focusing on public sector workers or private sector workers or those independent contractors, those with licenses, but kind of get a little bit of all of it. So, I think it’s pretty telling that across the board, Oregon failing their workers and failing to give them the freedom and opportunity that they need to succeed, and then, as a result, you know, is limiting the economic mobility of the state as a whole.”
Quinn asked Alan if any Oregon legislators were open to having a pro-worker conversation, Jernigan says, “I know there’s several of them doing, trying to do great work in the state, but I think a lot of it is just from the standpoint of making the point clear, this is pro-worker…At the end of the day, the best workers are those that have the individual right to choose how they want to go about their career in life.”
When Newton closed by asking how Oregon can turn things around, Jernigan emphasized both policy and perspective.
“No, I think a lot of it does come from the legislative level, but I think there’s also opportunity for just kind of an ideological shift and turning that away from government interference to help people, to let the people help themselves. And I think at the end of the day, that’s the key finding the report is, that people and businesses want the freedom to choose their own path, rather than being told what they can and cannot do”