Minimum Wage

Time to increase the Minimum Wage

We all know a young adult who wants to start on his own but has to live at home while paying off enormous students’ debt. And a senior without a pension sufficient to cover her living expenses who must continue to work, often in a low-paying job, well into her 70s. And a single mother who can’t go to work because earning minimum wage won’t cover the cost of childcare.

When the minimum wage is $10.25/hour (or soon to be a mere 20 cents more) these stories are inevitable. In fact, a full-time worker earning BC’s minimum wage will find herself more than $6,000 behind the poverty line, even more if she is supporting a family.

6.4 percent of workers in our province earn the minimum wage. That’s 120,000 people who are struggling to make ends meet. People from all demographics:

It is important to dispel the myth that minimum wage earners are all young people.

Nearly half - 47 percent – are older than 25. 63 percent are women. They are adults trying to establish a career; mothers and fathers trying to raise their families; and students trying to pay for their studies.

Shockingly, nearly 10,000 are over age 55. Seniors who simply cannot afford to retire, and are stuck in low wage jobs to keep paying the bills.

In a province as wealthy as ours, it is simply unacceptable that the government has set a minimum wage that entrenches thousands of people to a life of poverty.

That is why the BC Federation of Labour launched the Fight for $15 Campaign to raise the minimum wage to $15/hour.

The BC government recent announcement (March 2015) that the minimum wage will be raised a mere 20cents to $10.45/hour and then be tied to annual inflation has only served to guarantee low wage workers to a life of poverty.

While politicians make excuses, working people are left behind. Even with the pathetic 20 cent lift, BC’s minimum wage is one of the lowest in Canada (ranking 10th out of 13 provinces and territories).

In a province so rich in resources and opportunity, this is simply unacceptable. The BC Liberal government needs to get serious about addressing poverty and income inequality.

Most people get it. A recent poll showed that 75 percent of British Columbians support a “significant and immediate increase to the minimum wage,” and 80 percent say that an increase is “reasonable considering the cost of living.”

We aren’t the only ones talking about this issue. Income inequality has become an important topic of discussion right across North America.

Other jurisdictions are moving to a $15/hour minimum wage – Seattle and San Francisco are two examples. There is a road map being developed, and BC should be part of setting that agenda.
Of course, people have concerns. What about small businesses?

You don’t need to be an economist to know that the best thing for businesses is when working people have money in their pockets to spend. These same workers are the customers that keep local shops and services in business. An increased minimum wage is actually an investment in the community and the local economy.

We can’t afford to have working people living in poverty – that is what really hurts businesses.

We all want to live in a fair society where people have the means to look after themselves and their families. To do this we need to start making real policy change, and one of those changes must be raising the minimum wage to $15/hr.

Help us achieve this goal. Sign the petition and join the campaign at www.fightfor15bc.ca

When we work together, we can bring about real change. Let’s build an economy that works for everyone.

More information about the Fight for $15 campaign and important facts about minimum wage in BC, see the Fight for $15 Fact Sheets attached:

Fight for $15 Minimum Wage Campaign Launches New BC Election Video

October 14, 2016
Vancouver – With the provincial election just seven months away, the BC Federation of Labour is releasing a new 30-second video today urging voters to elect a government that will implement a $15 per hour minimum wage for all workers. The video highlights the financial challenges... more

Labour Day Message from President Irene Lanzinger

September 4, 2016
Plight of low-wage workers symbolic of Premier Clark’s abject failure to deal with poverty, inequality As we celebrate the holiday—Labour Day—that honours the contributions working people make every day to our economy and our communities, I’m asking all British Columbians to take a... more

Two-thirds of British Columbians support a $15 an hour minimum wage

April 1, 2015
VANCOUVER - A recent poll shows the public is unsatisfied with the BC Liberal government’s meager lift to the minimum wage, and continue to support the call for $15 an hour. “This poll is evidence that Premier Clark and Minister Bond got it wrong when they increased the minimum... more

Government announcement abandons working people, guarantees workers will remain in poverty

March 12, 2015
VANCOUVER – The BC Federation of Labour is extremely disappointed with the BC Liberal government’s announcement on minimum wage, saying it will do nothing to lift minimum wage workers out of poverty. “Today’s announcement guarantees that hundreds of thousands of British Columbians... more

We must raise the minimum wage

November 26, 2014
How many British Columbians have been told that getting a job is their path out of poverty? Unfortunately, the sad truth is that thousands of full-time workers toiling at $10.25 per hour (the current minimum wage in BC) find themselves thousands of dollars short of the reaching the poverty line... more

BCFED launches Fight For $15 campaign to increase the minimum wage

November 26, 2014
VANCOUVER – The BC Federation of Labour has launched the Fight For $15 campaign, calling on the provincial government to increase the minimum wage to $15/hour. “At the current minimum wage, working full-time is not enough to lift a worker out of poverty,” said Jim Sinclair,... more

Fight for $15 Minimum Wage Campaign Launches New BC Election Video

October 14, 2016 | Minimum Wage
Vancouver – With the provincial election just seven months away, the BC Federation of Labour is releasing a new 30-second video today urging voters to elect a government that will implement a $15 per hour minimum wage for all workers. The video highlights the financial challenges... more

Labour Day Message from President Irene Lanzinger

September 4, 2016 | Minimum Wage
Plight of low-wage workers symbolic of Premier Clark’s abject failure to deal with poverty, inequality As we celebrate the holiday—Labour Day—that honours the contributions working people make every day to our economy and our communities, I’m asking all British Columbians to take a... more

Two-thirds of British Columbians support a $15 an hour minimum wage

April 1, 2015 | Minimum Wage
VANCOUVER - A recent poll shows the public is unsatisfied with the BC Liberal government’s meager lift to the minimum wage, and continue to support the call for $15 an hour. “This poll is evidence that Premier Clark and Minister Bond got it wrong when they increased the minimum... more

Government announcement abandons working people, guarantees workers will remain in poverty

March 12, 2015 | Minimum Wage
VANCOUVER – The BC Federation of Labour is extremely disappointed with the BC Liberal government’s announcement on minimum wage, saying it will do nothing to lift minimum wage workers out of poverty. “Today’s announcement guarantees that hundreds of thousands of British Columbians... more

We must raise the minimum wage

November 26, 2014 | Minimum Wage
How many British Columbians have been told that getting a job is their path out of poverty? Unfortunately, the sad truth is that thousands of full-time workers toiling at $10.25 per hour (the current minimum wage in BC) find themselves thousands of dollars short of the reaching the poverty line... more

BCFED launches Fight For $15 campaign to increase the minimum wage

November 26, 2014 | Minimum Wage
VANCOUVER – The BC Federation of Labour has launched the Fight For $15 campaign, calling on the provincial government to increase the minimum wage to $15/hour. “At the current minimum wage, working full-time is not enough to lift a worker out of poverty,” said Jim Sinclair,... more