BCFED Labour Day Op-Ed by Irene Lanzinger
August 31, 2018
Working people and their families will be celebrating in communities across the province this Labour Day long weekend. It’s the end of summer, and the one day in the year where workers’ contributions to our economy, our social well-being and our communities are recognized.
Thousands will be... more Fair Wages are Critical to a Strong Economy
November 24, 2017
The BC Federation of Labour launched the Fight for $15 campaign three years ago, making the basic argument that a person working full-time should not be living below the poverty line.
Our campaign saw remarkable public support and, as a result, the NDP government has agreed to lift the minimum wage... more Raising the minimum wage an important step in tackling poverty
April 1, 2016
Today is April Fools’ Day. It’s a day to tell a few jokes, have some fun and be a bit of a prankster.
But today is also notable for something else.
It is the day that British Columbia officially moves into last place with the lowest minimum wage in the country.
That’s right – as of today, no other... more Tom Mulcair and the NDP are the best choice for working people
October 15, 2015
This federal election campaign is not just one of the longest in Canadian history, it’s also one of the most important.
After 10 years of lost jobs, cuts to vital public services, and the gutting of environmental regulations, it's time for change in Ottawa.
That's why I am voting for Tom Mulcair... more Low minimum wage impedes BC’s economy
September 15, 2015
It’s September 15, and today BC’s lowest paid workers get a raise. That’s right, today is the day that the minimum wage increases by a whopping 20 cents – from $10.25/hr to $10.45/hr.
But before we celebrate this raise, let’s put it in context.
There are more than 110,000 working people in BC... more Labour Day 2015 - Greeting from Irene Lanzinger
September 4, 2015
Labour Day has a long and significant history in our country. And as people get ready to enjoy a day off with family or friends, it’s import we don’t lose sight of why we celebrate this day each year.
More than just a holiday, Labour Day is a reminder of the struggles and victories of working... more New tax needed or we face gridlock nightmare
January 29, 2015
There has been a lot of attention paid to the upcoming plebiscite on transportation and transit funding and for good reason. Our current network of roads, buses and trains is simply not able to support our growing region.
We’ve all sat in gridlock, been passed over by packed buses and had to... 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 BC teachers need our support
June 18, 2014
“On the importance of education generally we may remark it is as necessary as the light, it should be as common as water, and as free as air.”
- Egerton Ryerson, founding father of public education in Canada, 1846
As most of us head for work this morning we will likely walk, drive, or cycle by a... more Cascade Aerospace
June 12, 2014
This week I was able to visit with workers from Cascade Aerospace. When the company is in operation, it is one of the area’s largest employers, with more than 600 highly-trained employees whose number one job is to keep airplanes in the air. According to the company, "the employees are key to our... more