Mayor commits to living-wage thrust
ECONOMIC SECURITY: Most unionized city employees are likely above the threshold, Coun. Geoff Meggs says
Any worker on City of Vancouver property earning less than $20 an hour can expect a pay raise if Mayor Gregor Robertson’s dream comes true.
The mayor plans to introduce a motion on the matter at a city council meeting this week, calling for a living wage for all city employees.
The most recent estimates put the living wage for Metro Vancouver at $20.68 per hour. This is different from the minimum wage, which in Vancouver is $10.25 per hour.
“Vancouver has one of the strongest economies of any city in Canada, but too many families are struggling to make ends meet,” Robertson said in a news release.
“Full-time work should provide families with a basic level of opportunity and economic security. A living wage has a direct impact on health and wellbeing, and helps create stronger local communities and economies. This motion will allow the city to lead by example, and encourage other organizations to join the living-wage movement.”
The motion calls on staff to look into the steps needed to get Vancouver certified by the Living Wage Campaign, a Vancouver group that calculates the wages necessary for each of two income earners in a four-person family to pay for basic needs such as rent, food, transportation and child care. The mayor’s office cautions that the process could take several years.
A number of employers in Metro Vancouver have already committed to paying employees a living wage, including Vancity, New Westminster and the United Way.
Coun. Geoff Meggs, who is leading the charge, said city staff will determine how many people are working for the city for less than $20 an hour.
Meggs said most unionized employees are likely earning more, but contracted employees, such as cleaning staff at community centres, could be earning less. “There may be some,” Meggs said.