Workers at Ottawa's Salvation Army shelter say it is increasingly difficult to work for poverty wages.
Living Wage
A number is never just a number -- money to live
How much do Canadians need to survive? How much do they get?
Related rabble.ca story:
Lobster fisheries: Economic struggle on the high seas
I went lobster fishing off West Pubnico with a young buddy last week. At one point, he indicated a boat ahead and said, "See that guy. He's not making any money. He's got a 750-horsepower engine." It turns out that not making any money, and the many things that might prevent you from doing so -- like a costly engine, or a couple of lost lobster pots at $100 each - is pretty well the only topic on the lobster grounds these days. This is a big deal for the economy of the Maritimes. Lobster is a billion-dollar-plus export industry, but it's especially the case for Western Nova Scotia where nearly half the Atlantic catch comes from.
Resolving the strike at Ottawa's Salvation Army shelter
Several weeks ago we, as concerned Christians, met at a local church with some of the striking workers from the Salvation Army Booth Centre on George Street in Ottawa's Byward Market. The staff members spoke first and at length about the people they serve, some with serious mental health problems and those trying to conquer alcoholism or addictions, many of whom are homeless. It was clear to us that these workers, whether as a front-line counsellors or as support staff in the kitchen, must have both skill and dedication to do what they do. These workers have both.
January 3, 2011 |
As of January 1 the new living wage bylaw takes effect in the City of New Westminster, the first of its kind in Canada. Now, the Township of Esquimalt is positioned to follow suit.
May 13, 2010 |
$18.17 is the 2010 family living wage, according to a report released last week that calculates an hourly wage based on the real costs of raising a family in Vancouver.
