WASHINGTON: The Port of Oakland, working with CenterPoint Properties, hopes to develop the former Oakland Army base as a cargo warehouse that would provide living wages, require local hiring and prohibit employers from discriminating based on some prior criminal convictions, The Mercury News reported last week. A proposed agreement between the Port and the developer establishes a pay rate of $13.32 per hour with benefits, or $15.31 per hour without benefits, which applies to all warehouse employers. In Oakland, the minimum wage is $12.86; in California, it’s $10.50.
If passed, the agreement would also require employers hire at least 50% of staff from Oakland, Emeryville, Alameda or San Leandro, CA. A further 25%, which could overlap with local hires, must be “disadvantaged” applicants with barriers to employment such as emerging from foster care, being veterans of the military, chronically unemployed, the formerly incarcerated or recipients of public welfare.
