B.C. Federation of Labour holding rallies demanding $15/hr minimum wage
Day of action in response to provincial decision to only raise rate by 20 cents per hour
The B.C. Federation of Labour is continuing to campaign to increase the province's minimum wage to $15 per hour despite a government decision to increase the rate based on inflation.
“BC has the second highest rate of poverty in Canada,” said Irene Lanzinger, president of the BC Federation of Labour.
“The government’s plan abandons low-wage working people, and guarantees poverty wage for years to come. It is shameful.”
Lazinger also says that under the current government policy it will take until 2034 for minimum wage in B.C. to reach $15 per hour.
Jobs Minister Shirley Bond announced Thursday that the government plan "will provide certainty for business in British Columbia, it will also provide certainty for employees in the province."
Compared to the rest of Canada, B.C. will remain as one of the worst payers, with only Alberta and Saskatchewan's minimum wages lower once the September raise takes effect.
The B.C. Federation of Labour will hold six different rallies to push for $15 per hour minimum wage and Lanzinger will attend the one in Nanaimo today and the one in Victoria tomorrow.
Fight for $15 events:
- Vancouver: Sunday, March 15th 12 p.m. PT Grandview Park (Charles and Commercial Drive)
- New Westminster: Sunday, March 15th, 1 p.m. PT – 4 p.m. PT, 326 – 12th Street, Unifor Hall in New Westminster
- Sechelt: Sunday, March 15th, 1:00 p.m. PT, 700 Park Rd, Community Centre
- Nanaimo: Sunday, March 15th, 11:00 a.m. PT, Maffeo Sutton Park, 10 Comox Rd
- Penticton: Sunday, March 15th, 12 p.m. PT – 1 p.m. PT, Across from the Penticton Museum
- Victoria: Monday, March 16th, 12:45 p.m. PT, Downtown Victoria - Meet Jim Iker and Irene Lanzinger on the south-east corner of Douglas and Fort