Displeased with the laws concerning minimum wage, multiple workers rights organizations are holding a meeting at the Laughing Buddha on April 15 to discuss the issue.
As the name implies, the Fight for $15 & Fairness campaign aims to increase minimum wage to $15 and prevent employers from paying under-aged workers, farm workers and liquor servers less than what is legally required for other sector workers.
While happy with the $0.25 increase taking place on Oct.1, a news release from the Sudbury Workers Education and Advocacy Centre states most activists believe that it is not enough.
“It is important that workers' wages do not get clawed back by the rising cost of living, but students and others will still be earning a lower income,” says Alastair Woods, chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario.
Many large corporations are taking advantage of young workers in Ontario that desperately need the money to pay their debts and make ends meet, Nicole Beaulieu, the executive director of the Sudbury Workers Education and Advocacy Center, says in the release.
“Ontario is the only province in Canada that still pays students less than other workers, which is unacceptable," Beaulieu says. "All workers should be protected equally by the same standards.”
Join the conversation at 5:50 p.m. on April 15 in the Laughing Buddha's private room.