Creek Nation Approves Minimum Wage Increase

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Muscogee (Creek) Nation has raised its hourly minimum wage to $7.67, giving a raise of more than a dollar an hour to the tribe's lowest-paid employees.<br/><br/>Before the

Thursday, October 12th 2006, 6:18 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Muscogee (Creek) Nation has raised its hourly minimum wage to $7.67, giving a raise of more than a dollar an hour to the tribe's lowest-paid employees.

Before the increase, the tribe could pay workers as little as $5.15, which is the state and federal minimum wage, but most of its employees earned at least $6 an hour.

Principal Chief AD Ellis says the raise is intended to help with employee retention. The pay hike will be reflected in the next check sent to employees. He says the tribe hopes to boost the hourly wage to $10 within the next two years.