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The BC Federation of Labour has launched a new campaign calling on the province to increase the minimum wage.
The campaign, 'Fight For $15' calls for an increase in the minimum wage to $15.
"At the current minimum wage, working full-time is not enough to lift a worker out of poverty,” says Jim Sinclair, President of the BC Federation of Labour.
“It has been almost three years since the last increase to the minimum wage. Workers fall behind when their wage is stagnant, yet the cost of living goes up each year.”
Currently, the minimum wage in BC is $10.25. It was last increased in May, 2012.
The federation says more than 120,000 workers in BC are earning the minimum wage. Of those, 47 per cent are over 25, eight per cent are 55 or older while 63 per cent are women.
Sinclair says BC has one of the lowest minimum wages in the country yet the province is the 'most expensive and unequal' according to Stats Can.
He says increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour would put a full-time worker 10 per cent above the States.
“Seattle and San Francisco know that increasing the minimum wage gives a boost to local economies,” says Irene Lanzinger, Secretary Treasurer of the BC Federation of Labour.
"Low wage earners are more likely to spend their money at businesses in their neighbourhood. Businesses may also experience improved employee retention and productivity when employees feel valued and respected.”
A recent public opinion poll, conducted by Insights West, suggests that British Columbians agree it is time to increase the minimum wage.
- 72% support an increase to $15/hr
- 75% support making a significant and immediate increase to the minimum wage
- 93% support reviewing and adjusting the minimum wage on a regular basis
“A lift for our lowest paid workers is long overdue,” says Sinclair. “$15/hour is a fair wage. We need to build an economy that works for everyone.”
Ironically, it was back in March of this year that the BCFED called on the province to increase the minimum wage to $13 an hour.
