By ASSOCIATED PRESS May 2, 2006
SANDIA PUEBLO, N.M. (AP) - Sandia Pueblo has approved a minimum wage that will require that the approximately 2,000 people who work for the pueblo and its enterprises be paid at least $8 an hour." This is a first for a tribal-owned enterprise and positions the Pueblo of Sandia as an industry leader in the local area," said Trulyn Bemis, human resources director for the pueblo just north of Albuquerque.
The state and federal minimum wage stands at $5.15 an hour. The new Sandia Pueblo minimum wage guarantees that no pueblo employee is paid less than $8 an hour, including base salary and tips. The wage scale for people who do not earn tips starts at $8.18 an hour. The minimum wage was approved April 19 by the Sandia Pueblo Tribal Council and announced by the pueblo Tuesday. It covers employees of the pueblo and its administration as well as enterprises such as Sandia Resort & Casino, Bien Mur Gift Shop and Travel Center and Sandia Lakes.
"This action speaks to the concern of council members that all employees be paid a fair wage," Bemis said. Sandia Pueblo also said it had expanded and increased its salary ranges to give workers more opportunities for financial growth. Raises also went to employees who have been in their jobs for a year or more. The increase will be retroactive to March 22, said the pueblo's public relations director, Amber Flores Jordan. Employees received the retroactive pay last Friday, and will be paid at the new rate beginning with this week's paychecks. The pueblo is expanding its benefits plan, but details have not been worked out, she said. The All Indian Pueblo Council in Albuquerque does not keep information about such things as wages on the 19 pueblos in New Mexico.
Proposals to raise the statewide minimum wage failed in the 2006 Legislature. The Albuquerque City Council last month approved an ordinance to raise the minimum wage in the state's largest city to $6.75 an hour next year. It would go to $7.15 an hour in 2008 and $7.50 an hour in 2009. Tips and commissions count toward the minimum wage.Santa Fe adopted a "living wage" ordinance in 2003. The ordinance required most companies with 25 or more workers to pay $8.50 an hour when it went into effect in July 2004. The minimum wage in the capital city increased to $9.50 this year.
# posted by karlos @ 1:37 PM
