The window to voice your thoughts on a $15-per-hour minimum wage is closing.
And prior to the Dec. 7 deadline to submit a written comment to the Fair Wages Commission, a vocal group of airport workers from the UNITE HERE Local 40 union made a presentation to commissioners last Saturday, in Vancouver.
Leading the submissions was Fipe Wong, 64, an HMSHost employee who has worked in the food service business at the airport for 21 years. She makes $16.50 per hour and maintains another part-time job, regularly working about 55 hours each week, to pay the bills.
“We want to see a $15 minimum wage at the airport because the cost of living has gone up,” said Wong. “It is not cheap to work there. Most of those who work at the airport earn minimum wage.
“We even have to pay our own parking — up to $70/month. And if you take transit, you get hit with (an extra) $5 fee to leave work.”
The Fair Wages Commission was established in October as an independent advisory panel for the provincial government. Its goal is to determine how the government can move toward a $15-an-hour minimum wage with “regular, measured and predictable” increases.
While many service-based industries have expressed concerns about the new wages, Richmond Business Association president Sunny Ho said Chinese restaurants generally have no concerns, as they are starved for employees due to housing unaffordability.
The commission is working with economists, trade unions, the technology sector, small businesses and youth, among various stakeholders.
