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B.C. Federation of Labour takes campaign for $10 minimum wage to the streets
March 23, 2007
Vancouver-Young workers and labour activists will brave bad weather Saturday at Vancouver's Commercial and Broadway Skytrain station to gather support for their Campaign to boost the provincial minimum wage to $10 per hour.
"When it comes to addressing the needs of our lowest paid workers, the Campbell government and their business allies have a deplorable record," said B.C. Federation of Labour President, Jim Sinclair, whose organization is gearing up the $10 NOW Campaign.
DATE: Saturday, March 24, 2007
TIME: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
PLACE: Commercial and Broadway Skytrain Station, Vancouver
WHO: Jim Sinclair, President, B.C. Federation of Labour
Shamus Reid, Canadian Federation of Students
Libby Davies, NDP MP
To ensure that no BC worker lives below the poverty line, Sinclair's group is calling for an immediate increase of BC's minimum wage to $10 and the elimination of the so-called $6 training wage.
While the provincial Liberals like to boast that BC has one of the highest minimum wage rates anywhere in Canada, Sinclair said they conveniently overlook the fact that we also have the highest living costs. "When you take living costs into account, we actually have the second lowest minimum wage level."
Despite the booming economy, Sinclair says the Campbell government's own statistics show that low-paid jobs are actually on the increase in both sheer numbers and as a percentage of the overall provincial workforce. "It's a sign that Premier Campbell is on the wrong track when it comes to ensuring that all of us are sharing in economic growth-not just a privileged few," stated Sinclair.
A recent B.C. Federation of Labour, public opinion poll shows that 79 percent of British Columbians support the move to a $10 minimum wage. A growing number of municipal councils have backed the $10 NOW Campaign, while several BC newspapers have also editorially embraced a significant increase in the minimum wage.
To see the Federation's Minimum Wage Brief click here , or to sign the minimum wage petition click here.
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