May 1st, 2013
Families who work for low wag
es face impossible choices — buy food or heat the house, feed the children or pay the rent. The result can be spiraling debt, constant anxiety and long-term health problems. In many cases it means that the adults in the family are working long hours, often at two or three jobs, just to pay for basic necessities. They have little time to spend with their family, much less to help their children with school work or participate in community activities. The frustration of working harder only to fall further behind is one many BC residents can relate to.
Since the 2008 CCPA report ‘Working for a Living Wage’ the Living Wage rate for Metro Vancouver has been rising every year as living costs keep rising. The newly calculated 2012 living wage rate for Metro Vancouver stands at $19.62 per hour. The 2012 living wage sees a notable 48-cent increase over the 2011 Metro Vancouver living wage of $19.14/hour.
To read report please goes to: 2013 Metro Vancouver Living Wage
September 13th, 2012
The success of the Living Wage for Families Campaign is dependant on all of us identifying where we can best make a difference in tackling low wage poverty. We encourage you to be daring, inventive and artful. Here are some examples of what you can do:
For more information on any of the above please contact: Michael McCarthy Flynn | Living Wage Campaign Organizer
First Call: BC Child & Youth Advocacy Coalition, 202 -1193 Kingsway, Vancouver BC, V5V 3C9 604.873.8437 | http://livingwageforfamilies.ca/ | www.lwemployers.ca
July 20th, 2012
The Living Wage is recalculated every year to take account of changes in living expenses and the tax and benefit system, thus making it an accurate and up to date measure of what it costs a family to live in their community. The following communities have recently updated their living wage calculation-
Victoria: The Greater Victoria Social Planning Council released its new 2012 Living Wage Calculation as $18.07/hr. For more information, click here and here.
Kamloops: The Kamloops Homelessness Action Plan has updated the Living Wage calculation for Kamloops as $17.95/hr. For more information click here and here.
Parksville/Qualicum: The District 69 Living Wage coalition has also updated their Living Wage Figure, which is now calculated at $16.94/hr.
July 20th, 2012
The Vancouver Sun’s Tracy Sherlock recently published an article in the business section of that newspaper entitled ‘Living Wage gives boost to staff struggling to make a living-More employers committing to pay workers enough to meet basic needs.’ One Living Wage Employer is quoted in the article as saying: “It’s one thing to create a job. But it’s another to create a job that can afford someone a better quality of life.”
Katie Hyslop recently penned a comprehensive article on the Living Wage as a solution to poverty called ‘Is the Living Wage enough?‘
While, The Vancouver Observer’s Barret Pearson has posted an article about Prof. Bruce Lanphear’s conclusion that Living Wages are a key to healthy childhood development.
July 20th, 2012
The ‘Living Wage Faith Group Engagement Project’ aims to educate and support Faith Groups to be better able to effectively engage with their community, especially in relation to supporting families on low incomes advocate for a Living Wage. If you are a member of Faith Group and wish to find out more about this project please contact: Michael at 604 873 8437 or info@livingwageforfamilies.ca
Some faith groups are already speaking out about living wages. The Unitarian Church of Vancouver (UCV) decided to stop serving as a food bank depot in 2009, after 30 years of operation because:
“food is a right; it should not be considered or dealt with as a charity which, in fact, is the inherent nature of food banks and the nature of the relationship that obtains between those who contribute to them and dispense food on the one hand, and those who receive it on the other. Provincial and federal policy should be created in such a way that ensures that those in need of food assistance receive it in a manner consistent with food as a right, not a provisional, charitable hand out (e.g. living wage and/or food stamp legislation).”
The Anglican Church has started to explore living wage issues- see this blog by Rev. Steve Bailey.
April 25th, 2012
On Tuesday April 25thSchool District 69 (Parksville/Qualicum) unanimously passed the following motion to become the first School District in Canada to pass a Living Wage Policy.
‘THAT the Board of Education of School District 69 (Qualicum) establish and implement a Living Wage Policy that is tied to the hourly rate established annually using the Living Wage for Families calculation methodology; and, THAT the Living Wage Policy will apply to all School District employees (full-time, part-time and casual) and all service providers and contractor staff.’
April 25th, 2012
Two companies, SAP Labs Canada and Briteweb, have recently been certified as Living Wage Employers, committing them to pay all their staff and contracted service staff a Living Wage. SAP is the world’s largest inter-enterprise software company and the world’s fourth-largest independent software supplier. SAP Labs Canada, Vancouver is one of the largest development centers for Business Objects solutions, with more than 350 employees dedicated to product development. Briteweb is a boutique Interactive Design & Communication agency in Canada. They work with social ventures, culture creators & non-profits that help make the world a better place.
To find out how your organization can become a Living Wage Employer please go to http://www.lwemployers.ca/
April 25th, 2012
The Sunshine Coast has recently published a sustainability plan called ‘We Envision: One Coast, Together in Nature, Culture and Community’. This plan sets outs a number strategies to help develop a sustainable future for the Sunshine Coast. As part of the plan the role that the living wage plays in securing sustainable communities is recognized.
‘In order to increase the number of full-time, living-wage jobs by 2020, we need to
• determine the living wage for the Sunshine Coast
• create inter-agency collaborations to gain commitment to living-wage jobs
• seek commitment from Sunshine Coast employers for living-wage terms of employment.’
To read more go to: http://www.onecoast.ca/
April 25th, 2012
Revelstoke has joined the growing number of communities in BC that are exploring how living wages can reduce poverty in their community. Living Wages was the subject of a workshop and consultation on Thursday, March 15, organized by JillZacharias, Social Development Coordinator for the Revelstoke Community Social Development Committee, in partnership with Learning Initiatives for Rural and NorthernBC.
See http://www.revelstokecurrent.com/2012/03/19/is-it-time-to-discuss-a-living-wage-in-revelstoke/
April 25th, 2012
The Living Wage for Families Campaign has recently updated two resources to help employers and communities explore the living wage concept. Firstly we’ve updated our living wage calculator to take account of the new living wage number in Metro Vancouver for 2012 and also altered its design to make it more user friendly – see- http://livingwageforfamilies.ca/calculator/
Secondly we’ve produced a Municipal Living Wage Toolkit for any community considering passing a Living Wage Policy in their City or School Board. It covers all the questions you may have about what is involved and even includes a copy of the city ofNew Westminster’s Living Wage Policy. See http://firstcallbc.org/pdfs/lw/municipal%20toolkit.pdf
April 25th, 2012
An article in the current edition of ‘Our Times’ by Mae Burrows and Donald Gutstein challenges all Unions in Canada to become Living Wage Employers by the end of the year. The HEU and BCTF have already been certified as Living Wage Employers with many others exploring the idea. See http://ourtimes.ca/Newsletter/mae_and_don_s_living_wage_commentary_in_our_times.pdf
March 15th, 2012
(SFU) Living Wage Campaign: The Living Wage for Families Campaign, in conjunction with our partners in Simon Fraser University (SFU) , are surveying low-wage workers on campus to highlight their working conditions and to hear their stories of trying to live on their current income. Simon Fraser University (SFU) is one of the largest and most important Universities in Canada. Yet many people working on campus, such as food service workers, cleaners and research assistants are not paid a living wage; that is a wage to cover their families’ basic expenses. If you know anyone who is working in a low wage job in SFU who would be interested in taking part in this survey please let Michael know (at 604.873.8437 or info@livingwageforfamilies.ca) or ask them to fill out an online version of our survey at MAPPING LOW PAY IN SFU.
Living Wage UVic: The Living Wage Campaign at the University of Victoria (UVic) is seeking to raise awareness about the cost of Living in Victoria and the wages of UVic grad students. Many grad students who work as teaching assistants, sessional instructors and research assistants aren’t paid a Living Wage. Without these workers the University would not be able to function. To find out more click onto http://livingwageuvic.ca/
March 15th, 2012
Eclipse Awards was recently confirmed as the Best Employer in BC at a gala awards ceremony hosted byGlobalBC’s Aaron McArthur and Canuck legend TrevorLinden. Organized by BC Small Business, the event was the culmination of a province-wide contest that recognizes and celebrates the important contributions of BC’s entrepreneurs to their local communities and the wider global economy. Eclipse Awards was one of the first businesses to become a living wage employer. To find out how to become a living wage employer go to http://www.lwemployers.ca/
March 15th, 2012
After months of behind-the-scenes work, the Kingston Community Roundtable on Poverty Reduction launched its Living Wage report. This report calculates a living wage at forKingstonto be $16.29. The report also reveals that almost 35,000 people inKingstonearn less than the annualized equivalent of minimum wage. Sixteen per cent live below the poverty line and 13 per cent are identified as working poor. The problem is compounded byKingston’s tight housing market, in which there is a growing waiting list for social housing, rents and home prices are soaring and the vacancy rate hovers at just one per cent. The authors of the report conclude: “Our ultimate goal is to ensure that all families inKingstonhave the resources that are necessary to raise their children, stay healthy, and fully participate in social and community life. Fighting for a living wage in our community labour market is an important step toward that goal.” For more see: http://www.livingwagekingston.ca/
http://www.policyalternatives.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/publications/Ontario%20Office/2011/10/Kingston%20Living%20Wage.pdf
March 15th, 2012
It is a sad irony that many of the people working in the social services sector assisting those living in poverty or providing essetial social services are themselves not paid a living wage. Please see below the following two stories about social service workers in BC and Ottawa fighting for a living wage: http://thetyee.ca/News/2012/02/27/Social-Service-Workers/?utm_source=mondayheadlines&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=270212
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/City+must+intervene+Salvation+Army/6282722/story.html
February 9th, 2012
A good citizen of New Westminster has brought to the attention of the authorities a possible violation of New Westminster’s Living Wage Policy. The City is currently investigating the contractor to ensure that they are fully compliant. On Jan. 1, 2011, the City of New Westminster became a living wage employer, which requires all firms that are contracted directly or indirectly by the city to provide services on city premises to pay their employees a living wage. For more details see this article in the Royal City Record.
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