YOUNG WORKERS RALLY FOR $10 MINIMUM WAGE

(The following article is from the March 1-15, 2008 issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $25/year, or $12 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $25 US per year; other overseas readers - $25 US or $35 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 133 Herkimer St. Unit 502, Hamilton, ON, L8P 2H3).

Report from the Vancouver & District Labour Council Young Workers Committee

On Feb., 15 the Vancouver & District Labour Council (VDLC) Young Workers Committee organized a rally in front on Premier Gordon Campbell's office to support the B.C. Federation of Labour's $10 NOW Campaign. The rally called for an increase of the minimum wage to $10 per hour, with another increase one year later to $11 and indexing of the wage to inflation. It also called for the elimination of the ageist $6 "training wage" which targets and takes advantage of new and young workers.

     The rally was attended by around 150 participants. Guest speakers were Jim Sinclair (BC Federation of Labour), Shamus Reid (Canadian Federation of Students), Emily Ottewell (VDLC Young Workers Committee), Andy Ross (Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union - local 378) and Kevin Bell (Retail Workers Union). The rally was kicked off with a recognition of the First Nations Land on which we were rallying by Phillipa Ryan (Grassroots Women) who also spoke on the effects of the minimum wage of youth and Aboriginal peoples.

     Tamara Kamachi, a member of the VDLC Young Workers Committee and Co-Chair of the COPE 378 Young Workers Committee was MC for the event.

     With clear skies and the BC FED "airforce" flying above, towing a massive $10 NOW banner, the speakers slammed Gordon Campbell's Liberal government for refusing to provide a living wage for B.C. most vulnerable and exploited workers including youth and students. The participants echoed these sentiments, chanting "Six Bucks Sucks!" and "What do we want?... $10... when do we want it... NOW!".

     The organizers collected several petitions and handed out buttons, stickers and information kits on the $10 NOW campaign. "We're happy this rally was such a success," said VDLC Young Workers Committee Chair, Stephen Von Sychowski. "But we aren't stopping here, we are going to keep working with our sisters and brothers in the BCFED on this campaign until we win a living wage for all workers."

     The rally was endorsed by the B.C. Federation of Labour, Vancouver & District Labour Council, Canadian Federation of Students, Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union local 378, Vancouver Elementary School Teachers Association, Communist Party of Canada, Young Communist League, Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance and Fightback. Also in attendance was Vancouver Hastings MLA Shane Simpson (NDP).

     The Young Worker's Committee's next $10 NOW action will be a picket at McDonalds (Commercial & Broadway) on Saturday, March 1 beginning at 1 pm.

Found at: http://www.peoplesvoice.ca/articleprint13/05%20YOUNG_WORKERS_RALLY_FOR_$10_MINIMUM_WAGE.html