The B.C. Federation of Labour is calling on British Columbia’s government to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour

In British Columbia, 6.4 per cent of workers — 120,400 working people — earn only the minimum wage. B.C.’s minimum wage earners are not only teens. In fact, 47 per cent are age 25 or older and nearly 10,000 are over 55. [source: B.C. Federation of Labour]

And low wage workers are predominantly women — nearly two thirds (63 per cent) of minimum wage earners. Minimum wage workers aren’t all new to the job: 55 per cent have worked in their jobs for at least a year.

There was a time in my when I was making minimum wage and I was living on $10 an hour. It was difficult. I was only doing it for myself, I was single, so I can only imagine how hard it is for families to raise children and pay bills on $10 an hour. — Mark Pampu, interviewed by the Vancouver Sun (Feb. 15, 2015)

As an immediate action, the B.C. Federation of Labour is calling on the B.C. government to increase minimum wage to $15 per hour. The group says that an increase to $15 is not the end point, but an important start to ensure B.C.’s lowest paid workers get the lift they need. More information about Fight for $15 can be found at www.fightfor15bc.ca.

We speak with Irene Lanzinger, president of the B.C. Federation of Labour.

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