Cherokee Nation Tribal Council Passes Minimum Wage Increase

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Cherokee Nation tribal council approves a minimum-wage proposal that will raise the wage to $8 an hour for all of its tribal employees.<br/><br/>The proposal passed two weeks

Tuesday, September 12th 2006, 6:14 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Cherokee Nation tribal council approves a minimum-wage proposal that will raise the wage to $8 an hour for all of its tribal employees.

The proposal passed two weeks ago in a tribal council committee. That led to the proposal being placed on the agenda for Monday night's council meeting of all tribal councilors, and it passed by a vote of 11-to-6.

The proposal still needs Chief Chad Smith's approval and Smith could veto the wage hike. Smith has eight days to let the council know of his decision.

Tribal spokesman Mike Miller says there is wide support for the proposal from the chief and the council but there's some discussion over the best way to implement it.

He says there is still a debate on whether or not to phase in any new minimum-wage rules.

The Cherokee Nation employs more than 6,000 people.