January 6, 2010
News release
Moncton – The proposed increases in Minimum wage is good news- Linda McCasltin, co-chair of the Common Front for Social Justice
`''For years, the Common Front for Social Justice had been advocating for an increase of the minimum wage to $10.00 an hour and that these increases be done at fix dates. We are satisfied that at last this government has taken the right decision” says Linda McCaustlin.
Right now our minimum wage is at $8.25 an hour, the lowest of all the provinces, except British Colombia. In April 2010 Nova Scotia's workers will be making $9.20 an hour and they will in October 2010 be receiving $9.65 an hour. Newfoundland and Labrador workers will be making $10,00 an hour July 2010.
''The announced increases will certainly be welcome by workers but we will still be with a minimum wage lower that two of our neighboring provinces in 2010. If those provinces keep increasing their minimum wage in 2011, we will still be the lowest” says Ms. McCaustlin.
Full-time workers at forty hours a week will in April 2010 be making a salary of $17,680 per year. In September 2011 this same worker will make $20.800; receiving $3,640 more in revenu than right now.
''These increase should get workers over the poverty line” says Ms. McCaustlin
Provincial governments are realizing that it's unjust to have citizens working each day and still living in poverty.
Campaign 2000 Hunger Count Report for last year mentioned that 12% of food bank clients reported employment income.
'' Right now, we are just trying to catch up'' concludes Ms. McCaustlin
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Pour information
Linda McCaustlin– 855-7046(co-chair)
Jean-Claude Basque –389-1578 (provincial coordinator)
The Common Front for Social Justice is one of the largest democratic and popular organization in New Brunswick with close to 75,000 groups and individual members. The Common Front brings together individuals as well as local, regional and provincial organizations to work towards the eradication of poverty.
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