New Westminster has become the first city in Canada to pass a "living wage" bylaw, effectively raising the minimum wage paid by the municipality.
"New Westminster has taken a stand for working families today by setting this powerful precedent,” said Dave Tate of BC ACORN, one of 40 organizations that lobbied for the bylaw.
Living wage bylaws set a wage "floor" above the minimum wage for workers who work directly for the city, for firms that receive contracts from the city, and firms that receive economic development money from the city.
"Once the policy is implemented, all direct and indirect workers (contract workers, etc.) performing work on City premises will earn a wage no lower than $16.74," Tate said in an email.
BC ACORN presented a petition with 1,200 signatures in support of the bylaw. The New Westminster campaign was just one of many underway across the country. A similar bylaw was recently rejected by the City of Calgary.
"This gives working people hope that the tide of stagnant wages is receding in Canada," Tate said.
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SharingIsGood
2 years ago
WAHOOO!
I commend New West for their vision. Now it is time for the people of the province to shame the province into giving the health care workers their jobs back - at a living wage! The notion that we could save money by firing people and then hiring for profit companies to hire workers at a lower wage has been a dismal failure for average people.
G West
2 years ago
Very Good news
Maybe someone in New West could phone the CEO.
crankypants
2 years ago
Kudos to New Westminster
Finally we have some politicians with the intestinal fortitude to make an attempt at treating their citizens with respect. Too bad it won't apply to all the people working in this city. With today's other major announcement from Victoria, it is nice to know that at least some people will be able to afford to pay our ever increasing hydro rates.
Grania
2 years ago
New West Living Wage
I would like the names of those responsible and encourage them to run for provincial government office. I want one of them for Premier!
freebear
2 years ago
So is New Westminister hiring?
We all can't work for the municipality we live in!