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Living Wage:
Quality of Life – Not Poverty for Life!
Vibrant Communities Saint John
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
radiofreethinker.com
What is a Living Wage?
• The living wage is defined as an hourly wage that is high enough to allow a family to pay for the basic necessities of life and to participate in the civic/social life of their community.
www.industriall-union.org
www.btlonline.org
Why does a Living Wage matter?
this.org
How do we calculate a Living Wage?
• Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives: “Working for a Living Wage” (2012)
• Calculates the living wage for a two-parent, two children, two income family – can be adjusted
• Calculation Guide
• Interactive Excel Spreadsheet
• http://www.policyalternatives.ca/livingwage2012
Market Based Measure – NB (2009)
In Focus: Cost of Poverty in New Brunswick – The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (2011)
Daycare Costs – NB (2013)
New Brunswick Child Care Cost Information – Go Day Care (2013)
www.cartoonwork.com
Who supports Living Wages?• New Westminster, BC• Abbotsford, BC• Esquilmalt, BC• Victoria, BC• Calgary, AL• Hamilton, ON• Kingston, ON• Waterloo, ON• Niagara, ON• Winnipeg, MB
• Vancity Credit Union• KPMG• Canadian Cancer Society -
BC & Yukon Division• Canadian Centre for Policy
Alternatives• United Way of the Lower
Mainland• United Food and Commercial
Workers Union (UFCW)
Identified Challenges
• Lack of knowledge (public & private)
• MANY arguments against
• Difficult to change public perceptions
• Lack of resources at community level to run a successful campaign
Next Steps....
• Gather realistic & accurate information
• Conduct a review of available literature
• Take the community’s pulse
• DO the calculation
• Identify possible drawbacks
Research Report: Living Wage Campaigns – Community Profiles – The Research Shop (2011)
What does a living wage mean?
• I would have time to volunteer with my church.
• I would be able to take my girlfriend out on a date.
• I would be able to see my children.
• I would be able to afford to start a family.
• I would be able to get to the end of the month without using my credit card.
• I would be able to afford to send my kids on a field trip.
• I would be able to buy enough food for my family.
• I wouldn't have to work two jobs just to make ends meet.