ALBERTA LIVING WAGE CAMPAIGN
ALBERTA LIVING WAGE CAMPAIGN
The Liberal Opposition called for it to be increased to $6 per hour and the NDP opposition have called for it to be increased to $7 per hour.
Thanks to a concerted campaign by labour and social activists enough pressure was placed on the government that it has actually increased the minimum wage as of 1998.
The latest increase brings it to $5.90 per hour. The government has also eliminated the differential wage for young people.
Tomorrow's Minimum Wage Increase All She Wrote
ESPC study highlights working poor still flocking to the food bank
"The Klein government has cast the working people of Alberta a very slim bone indeed with the last increase in the minimum
wage. I worry how long it's going to take us to get the next increase," said Barrett.
She concluded by calling for an immediate increase to the minimum wage to $7.00 per hour. Future increases in the minimum
wage should also be linked to the cost of living.
"The quickest, best and fairest way to improve the lives of working Albertans and reduce poverty is to increase the minimum
wage," concluded Barrett.
Latest minimum wage increase offers little cause for celebration
Problems will persist without regular inflation adjustments, says AFL
Starting October 1, Albertans earning the minimum wage will see a slight boost in
their earnings � but the increase offers little cause for real celebration, says the president of Alberta�s
largest labour organization.
"Alberta may no longer have the lowest minimum wage in the country," says Audrey Cormack,
president of the Alberta Federation of Labour. "But it�s still not nearly enough to make ends meet.
The sad truth is that our minimum wage is still a poverty wage."
Alberta�s minimum wage has been increased in three stage over the past year � from $5.00 to $5.40
per hour on October 1, 1998; from $5.40 to $5.65 on April 1, 1999; and finally from $5.65 to
$5.90 on October 1, 1999.
As a result of the changes, Alberta has moved ahead of the four Maritime Provinces in terms of
provincial minimum wage levels. But Alberta still lags far behind B.C., Quebec and Ontario where
the minimum wages are $7.15, $6.90 and $6.85 respectively.
Cormack points out that Alberta�s new minimum wage is still not high enough to keep low-wage
workers out of poverty. According to Statistics Canada, an individual living in Edmonton or Calgary
would have to earn about $17,500 per year in order to live above the poverty line.
Everyone agrees that even with this modest increase Alberta still lags behind the rest of Canada, and a 'minimum' wage is NOT a Living Wage. We still need to fight for a living wage and full benefits for part time workers. The Struggle Continues, not only in Alberta but in Canada and around the world.
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New Democrats Renew Call for $6 per Hour Now, $7 a Year from Now
At the May 1998 annual Alberta Convention of the Catholic Womens League in Alberta announced they too will campaign for a higher minimum wage and a benefits package for the working poor
CWL will work to end poverty WCR June 21
"There are a lot of people living in poverty and we must do something to alleviate (their situation).The first thing is to raise the minimum wage."
Minimum wage going up, Klein says June 19
Minimum Wage To Be Raised June 18
Albertans are overwhelmingly behind raising the minimum wage from $5 - the lowest in the country - a report presented yesterday to a legislature committee says.
"I think we've got a pretty honest and fair review," Labor Minister Murray Smith said of the report, presented by Calgary-Fort MLA Wayne Cao. "The message is quite clear," Cao said after the presentation, referring to the 97% support for a minimum wage and 86% support for an increase in that minimum wage that the questionnaires found. Cao found support for increases of up to $10 an hour but said he wasn't making any specific recommendation to the committee on numbers. Minimum-wage hike seen following survey June 18
A Calgary Herald columnist reported Wednesday the government is planning to bring in a wage hike of up to $1, bringing the minimum wage to $6.
Alberta Resteraunt Federation eyes pay cut for tip earnersJune 19
by Fiona McNair, Vue Weekly Edmonton restaurants oppose Minimum Wage Increase June 21
Letter To The Editor Edmonton Sun August 4 Re: Minimum Wages and Waitresses
I'M A waitress and have been in the industry for 10 years now. I have never received more than $5 per hour as a wage. I must say that I was a little outraged by the article printed in the July 9 issue of The Sun. Sawmill Calgary Trail manager Glenn Martin, I feel, overstepped his boundaries saying that "tips are probably three times a server's wage, depending on ability and the restaurant." There are few restaurants that provide their staff with an environment to earn this much. If he thinks the Sawmill is that kind of establishment then he should look more closely at what his staff are making. It's very rare. I know this because I am an employee of the Sawmill. I have only three times made three times my wage. I also find it funny that he feels he spends a lot of time and money to train his staff. I only had two days of training, with no pay. They do not provide raises for their staff. I think that Mr. Martin should have maybe let another restaurant represent the hospitality industry, since he really has no place in stating an opinion here. Restaurants use their staff to do other duties besides waitressing, cutting costs in other areas. "Get the staff to clean, scrub the floors, dust shelves, clean washrooms and vacuum." This will save money on cleaners. Do they not realize that they are not paying out the gratuities? And do they realize that without their staff interacting with their clientele, they would not have a business? I do admit that I work for $5 an hour and that I do receive gratuities, but that does not mean I don't deserve the recognition of a wage increase for a job well done, and, for that matter, a provincial government decision. Waitresses have been cash cows for restaurant owners for too long, and need to start receiving some of their bosses' rewards.
Pam Jansen
A Brief to the Minimum Wage Board of Manitoba CUPE Manitoba October 20, 1998
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