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.