THREE
YEAR WAIT TIME TOO LONG FOR LOW-WAGE EARNERS
Organizers
of the $10 Minimum Wage campaign have responded decisively to the leaked
news about government plans to raise the minimum wage over three years.
“This will
leave over a million people in Ontario at poverty wages long into the
future.” said John Cartwright, President of the Toronto & York
Region Labour Council. “A three year wait time is far too long. Compared
with the eight days it took them to give MPP’s a massive increase, this
is simply unacceptable.”
Most
low-wage earners are women or from racialized communities. Carolyn Egan of
the International Women’s Day organizing committee, noted that “This
year thousands of women spoke out about the need to raise the minimum wage
to $10 immediately. Too many women are trying to make ends meet working
two and three jobs. Asking them to hold off for years is irresponsible.”
“When you
listen to young people’s real life experience, they are very clear that
incomes are not enough to get ahead.
On $8 an hour, they can’t afford even the most basic
necessities” says Cynthia Dumont of West Scarborough Community Centre.
More
information on facts and figures regarding minimum wage, including the
actual results of increases, can be found at http://www.labourcouncil.ca/background.html
For more information contact: John Cartwright, Labour Council President at
416-999-5663
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