Niagara has been certifying living wage employers at a furious rate this year, and the latest is Gales Gas Bar, with 15 locations across the area. 

They currently employ 22 full time and 76 part time staff. The full time staff are all paid at least the living wage–$17.99/hour–and have embarked on a wage increase and benefits plan to bring the part time staff up to the same over the next few years. 

Some employers are able to certify at the champion level, where they can demonstrate that all full time, part time and contracted staff are paid the living wage. Other businesses, especially those in industries where minimum wage models dominate, a phased implementation is needed. 

We look forward to announcing this family owned and operated business as a certified living wage employer at the Champion level. 

Here is the press release from the Niagara Poverty Reduction Network:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Gale’s Gas Bar Limited Certified as a Living Wage Supporter

The Niagara Poverty Reduction Network is pleased to announce that Gale’s Gas Bar Limited has become a certified living wage employer at the Supporter level.

ST. MARYS, ON - Luckhardt Landworks Ltd. is the latest to certify as a Living Wage Employer in the champion category. They are the first business in St. Marys to achieve this status.

“Luckhardt Landworks Ltd. is proud to be a Living Wage Employer. Since the company’s beginnings, it has been important that we contribute to the local economy by providing a sustainable living to our employees – to provide a quality of life and to enable us to attract the right people to deliver a quality product,” says Bryn Luckhardt, Owner of Luckhardt Landworks Ltd. “A win-win situation for everyone - we have excellent employees and wonderful customers. We are excited to participate in the Living Wage campaign to bring awareness to the local community.”

Great article St. Catharines The Standard:

The drive to have Niagara employers pay a living wage hit a milestone this month — the 20th company signed on to the campaign. But paying all their workers enough that they can afford to live a decent life in the community is just part of it, said Justin Callon, co-owner of ServiceMaster Restore in St. Catharines."A lot of it is just providing the right atmosphere and treating people properly," he said. "Giving them a living wage definitely helps."

Read the full story here.

Low Wage work hurts families and undermines the local economy.

The rapid rise of low wage jobs is a growing concern in Ontario communities. Many of us no longer earn enough at our jobs to make ends meet. We face impossible choices. Buy food or paying the rent? Heat the apartment or fix the car? Growing numbers of us face spirally debt and constant anxiety about the future. More of us have long term health problems.
In Ontario nearly 1.7 million workers work at lower paid jobs.

There is a solution. It’s a Living Wage.

Over 170 employers across the province have made the commitment to pay their employees at least a living wage. More and more individuals, community groups, employers and politicians are showing their support for the living wage. We are asking every candidate in the 2018 Municipal Elections across Ontario to support the living wage movement in the province.

Municipalities hold a key to solving poverty by paying a living wage Municipal governments are anchor institutions in communities and have an opportunity to influence other employer organizations to do the right thing.

Cities of the 21st century must stand for fairness and equality. And not just in words, but with wages.

Please indicate you seat and ward/region in the comment section so visitors know where you are running. ENDORSEMENTS MADE WITHOUT THIS INFORMATION CANNOT BE MAPPED.

Should I be elected to public office, I pledge to advocate for our public sector employers to become certified Living Wage employers.

Thank you to everyone who spent the day with us in Burlington on February 23rd. There was a palpable energy to the panels, discussions and presentations. It reminded me of why I love working on events. 

If you weren't able to make it, don't worry. Posted on the event's page are downloadable audio recordings of every part of the day. You can also view/download the 3 slide decks that were shown in the public sector and campaign panels.

If you listen to just one audio clip, make it the final wrap-up session, hosted by Deirdre Pike. She facilitates a summary of the most valuable takeaways from each part of the day. And it's also crazy entertaining. 

Well done Kingston Living Wage. They are:

Kingston Community Health Centres

Loving Spoonful

Kingston Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corporation

Open Door Media

Read the story in The Whig here.

Or watch Global TV's coverage here. 

We all want to share in economic prosperity. Unfortunately, for too many workers in Hamilton, work is not a route out of poverty. With the support of progressive employers, civic leaders and other partners, we’re striving to make Hamilton a living wage community!

Hamilton’s living wage calculation uses community-specific data through a framework developed by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-Ontario to determine expenses incurred by a family of four. A living wage enables workers to: provide the necessities for their family, promote healthy development, participate in community life, and avoid the stress of living in chronic poverty.

How we got $16.45 per hour:

• Family of four: two adults, two children
• Both adults work full time; 37.5 hours a week
• No savings, retirement planning or debt repayments

Monthly Costs

— 2019's Living Wage Calculation Report to be posted here soon —

Well done Cam Jay and Tara Kainer of Kingston Living Wage on a successful employer recognition event Thursday August 3rd.

The first two of many to come: Brunet Plumbing Kitchen & Bath and King's Town Dental. 

Living wage employers are leaders among their peers, and deserve to be recognized for their commitment to decent work. For that reason it was great to see this event receive so much coverage from the local media... 

We send out our newsletter on the last Friday of every month with updates about living wage employers, our advocacy work, news clippings, and more. Your information will never be shared, traded, or sold. 

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