Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

PSAC member Be Gomes and the Terrace District Labour council successfully lobbies Terrace City Council to support the $10 minimum wage campaign.

source: The Terrace Standard.

TO ENSURE a healthy local economy and people’s survival, B.C.’S minimum wage must be raised to $10 an hour, according to a representative of the local labour council.

“Terrace is a perfect example,” Kitimat-Terrace & District Labour Council spokesperson Be Gomes says. Gomes attributes various job vacancies around town to potential workers not bothering to apply because of low wages.

“People can not afford to live off $8 an hour,” she said.

B.C.’s general minimum wage is $8 an hour though employees with little or no are categorized differently. The minimum wage for their first 500 hours of work is $6 an hour.

Gomes said many workers are also exhausted just trying to make ends meet. Her own daughter works two jobs a day for a total of 13.5 hours and is taking a year off school to save money. She was initially excited to be making money but quickly realized the minimum wage didn’t go far, Gomes said.

Gomes solicited the Terrace city council’s support for a minimum wage increase Sept. 10.

Ten dollars an hour would at least ensure all British Columbians would be at or above the poverty line after a full day’s work, reads a letter she submitted to council. “The $10 figure will allow a single person to just barely climb over that line without about $250 to spare,” it continues.

Council agreed to back the issue at an upcoming convention with provincial representatives at the end of this month, along with various other municipalities and organizations. The city’s chief administrative officer Ron Poole said it’s too late for the city to submit its own resolution regarding the minimum wage increase but will back the issue when it’s on the floor at the Union of British Columbia Meetings.

Mayor Jack Talstra said, “I don’t have any problem with the $10 an hour.”

But he noted the issue of all workers receiving benefits was as important an issue. Gomes was delighted with council’s response. “I think everyone realizes that the need is there,” she said.

Common reasons stated for not raising minimum wage include the following:

• Higher wages hurt smaller businesses that can not afford the extra cost.
• Higher wages create unemployment as businesses may hire fewer employees
• Higher wages may convince youth to work rather than go to school.
• Higher wages are not an effective antipoverty tool as many of the poor do not work.