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February 20, 2018
ST. JOHN’S – Unifor welcomes the Newfoundland and Labrador government’s decision to tie minimum wage to inflation, but gives the province a failing grade on the base wage.
“With the nickel and dime minimum wage increase announced today, the reality is minimum wage earners in this province have had their wages stagnant at 1976 levels, and while it is important to factor in a formula for yearly minimum wage increases, what this does is guarantee the minimum wage will be stuck in 1976 forever and not progress,” said Lana Payne, Unifor’s Atlantic Regional Director.
As of April 1 workers will get $11.15 cents an hour and that wage will be reviewed annually, based on the National Consumer Price Index.
The Dwight Ball government has raised the minimum wage three times since 2016, but the history of minimum wages in Newfoundland and Labrador has been one of inconsistency and prolonged periods when the wage was frozen. This resulted in the wage losing spending power, some of which was recouped during the 2004-2010 period.
“The problem is that we still have a long way to go in this region to achieve a fair wage for workers, and when other provinces are committing to $15 an hour, workers here are being told 15 cents is all they deserve and that is simply unacceptable,” said Payne.
Unifor supports the $15 and Fairness campaign across Canada and applauds Alberta, Ontario and B.C. for announcing plans to get the wage to $15 an hour.
For more information, please contact Unifor Atlantic Communications representative Natalie Clancy: @email or (902) 478-9283 (cell)
