The Niagara Poverty Reduction Network is pleased to announce that St. Catharines-based Iron Will Raw Inc. has become Niagara’s 8^th certified Living Wage Employer.

“To produce the safe, nutritious and high quality product we strive for, we need to have a team of top notch individuals that are committed to our company and our philosophies. We want our team members to be proud of where they work and the products they produce so they can strive to better their skills and abilities in the workplace. By creating a positive culture in the workplace and providing a compensation package that pays a living wage I believe we are setting our team, and our business up for success and longevity,” says Iron Will Raw owner, Matt Bonanno. Iron Will Raw currently employs a dozen staff.

Every year on the first week of November, we celebrate all things living wage. Several communities will be hosting employer recognition events and report launches. It has also become the time when we release new and newly updated local calculations:

Events

Perth Huron Living Wage Rate

November 7

8:00 AM

Libro Credit Union,

74 Kingston Street, Goderich

Kingston Living Wage Week Celebration

November 7

1:00 to 3:00 pm

Vincentian Room, Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul

Motherhouse, 1200 Princess Street, Kingston

Kindred Credit Union and Mennonite Central Committee Living Wage Celebration

November 7

1:00-2:00

50 Kent Street, Kitchener

Perth Huron Living Wage Rate

November 8

8:30 AM

McLeods Scottish Shop

80 Ontario Street, Stratford

Josie Rudderham, certified living wage employer, testifies before a government panel on bill 148 in 2017.

Businesses shun move to roll back workers rights, opting for the high road

We are a network of business owners challenging the corporate lobby narrative saying decent work laws are bad for business.

We have found the opposite - when we take care of employees and provide decent jobs, our businesses are more successful.

By scrapping most of Bill 148 - a $15 minimum wage, a couple paid leave days, equal pay, fair scheduling - the Ford government has shown that it is fundamentally for the big business lobbies who have proven themselves to be anti-worker.

There is another side to the story...

Well done Niagara Poverty Reduction network for bringing PenFinancial into the living wage movement. They are the latest Credit Union to certify, bringing the total to 5 across Ontario: DUCA Credit union, Kindred Credit Union, Libro Credit Union, Mainstreet Credit Union. Together they they operate 51 branches across the southern part of the province. It's getting easier to do your banking with a responsible employer. 

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. 

Announcing the 2018 Living Wage Rate: $16.10 an hour

The living wage rate is the hourly wage a worker needs to earn to cover their basic expenses and participate in community life. The calculation includes actual costs in local communities. So the Waterloo Region living wage rate reflects the actual cost for things like rent, food, transportation, hydro, child care, etc. in Waterloo region. The calculation also takes into account taxes and government transfers.

To kick off #LivingWageWeek, Glen Walker, chair Niagara Poverty Reduction Network has a great op-ed in Niagara This Week:

Nov. 5-11 is Living Wage Week.Initiatives around the world in countries like New Zealand, the United Kingdom and even right here in Ontario are discussing Living Wage and its significance in our society.As part of its ongoing work, the Niagara Poverty Reduction Network’s (NPRN) Wages and Work Task Group has been involved in the calculation of the local living wage, as well as prompting discussions about this important benchmark and what it means to our community.There is much confusion regarding the differences between living wage and the legislated minimum wage.Minimum wage is a standard set by the provincial government that employers must legally adhere to. It is based on a historic standard that gets adjusted based on the policies of the current Ontario government. It is an arbitrary and, some might say, inadequate number...

Read the full piece here.

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...