WHY SHOULD WEALTHY COMPANIES BE ALLOWED TO PAY POVERTY WAGES?
 
 
Over one million people in Ontario earn less than $10 an hour, working in jobs where they are underpaid and undervalued. If minimum wage had kept up with inflation, it would be $10 today. The single most effective step to improve incomes would be for the Ontario government to raise the minimum wage.

MPP Cheri DiNovo's $10 Minimum Wage Bill is one small step in helping Ontario's unrepresented working poor gain some dignity and to actually
feel a sense of being valued.  It is important to note that of the 1 million workers in Ontario existing on the minimum wage, 750,00 are women, thus exposing the current minimum wage as another form of systemic discrimination. This, while MPP's shamelessly legislate themselves more money in a pay increase than a current minimum wage earner makes in an entire year.
 
The 25% wage increase for Ontario MPP's=$22,192.75
 
Yearly increase of the minimum wage for a full-time worker:
40 hours a week X 52 weeks X 25 cents=$520.00 
 
25% increase for a cabinet minister with portfolio in Ontario=9, 387.50 plus the $22,192.75

Raising the minimum wage is one important step in raising the income standards of low-wage workers. Another is enforcement of Employment Standards. The Ontario Federation of Labour and Labour and Social Justice activists all over Ontario are aligned in this campaign and for more information see the OFL webpage.
 
Dave Trumble
President
Grey-Bruce
Labour Council, Kincardine