City Supports Boost In Minimum Wage

Monday, April 30, 2007 08:18 PM

Prince George City Council has agreed to support pressing the Provincial Government to boost the minimum wage to $10.00 an hour.

Prince George and District Labour Council Vice President Sussanne Skidmore says the current rate of $8.00 an hour has been in effect since 2001. She says that even with a 40 hour work week, the wage is still below the poverty level. Skidmore says 5.6% of the workforce in B.C. is working for minimum wage and of that amount, 56% are under the age of 25.

The resolution reads:

“The Mayor and Council of Prince George urge the Provincial Government to increase the minimum wage to $10.00 per hour and indexed to inflation every year after; and that

The Mayor and Council forward the resolution to the Premier, the Minister of Labour and Citizens Services, the Minister of Employment and Income Assistance, the Finance Minister and the three local MLA’s Pat Bell, Shirley Bond and John Rustad.”

15 City Councils across the province have already indicated their support for this resolution.

Councilor Don Zurowski said that while he would agree $8.00 an hour is not a living wage, he would not support the resolution as he doesn’t believe the municipal government should get involved in a provincially regulatedmatter, "We have a lot of work as a local government without inserting ourselves in the provincial government’s responsibilities as well."

Councilor Debora Munoz said today too often there are workers who can afford shelter or food but not both.She sees this not as a provincial matter, but a matter for a healthy economy.

Councilor Murry Krause says while he can appreciate the case for small business, he is also aware of the struggles of the poor. "People have to turn to soup kitchens and food banks at the end of themonth. Not moving ahead with this will see Prince George having to increase the need for support services and we are barely able to keep up with it now."

The final vote had Zurowski, Sethen and Scott opposed.

Councilors Bassermann, Munoz, Krause, and Skakun in support.

Mayor Colin Kinsley and Councilor Shirley Gratton were absent.

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Posted on Monday, April 30, 2007 08:18 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Palopu on May 1 2007 2:56 PM

Zurowski is just blowing steam. Maybe he is not aware that Municipal Government is a Provincially Regulated Responsibility and he is involved with the Province whether he likes it or not. Forestry is a Provincial Government Responsibility, so why would the City bother going after the Province for money for Beetle Killed timber etc;

Its much more than minimum wage involved here. Whenever possible these so called **Employers** cut their employees hours to 20 hours per week to avoid benefits etc; No doubt this will continue even at at an increased rate of $10.00.

We need some substantial increases in wages for the bottom employees and some significant decreases in wages to those on the top end, who get paid excessive dollars, get all the benefits, holidays, sick pay, paid vacation, etc; etc; and produce very little.