Interesting that with BC "dead last" in minimum wage, our economy is first in the country in strength and growth.

Not really "fading fast" are we? 

Wage rates are lower here because Campbell and his business party are working to maximize profit for corporations at all costs. They are the nothing but agents for big business. In this province the minimum hourly rate should be $15 - due to the higher cost of living in BC compared to other provinces..  

Raising the minimum wage would instantly put large numbers of the poorest people out of work, because businesses can't magically increase their profits to pay the higher wages. Mandating a pay increase just makes the goods those workers produce become more expensive, hurting either the businesses that hired them in the first place, or the other consumers that need the goods.

Employment is a VOLUNTARY CONTRACT between the employer and the employee. If the employee isn't being paid enough, there is nothing saying they can't look for a better job. If you are still dumb enough to believe the nonsense about 'workers owning the means of production', I suggest you check out every single communist country ever, and see how that worked out for them.

The only people that benefit are slimy union bosses like Jim Sinclair that would instantly claim a portion of the increase through union dues. Fact. 

Dave M - "dead last" is a fact - and long time since there has been any increase in the minimum wage is a fact.

"First in the country in strength and growth" is unclear.

Are you saying that there is a connection between a dead last minimum wage and (economic) "strength and growth"? 

Would you expect anything else from a gov't led by Gordo? It is criminal how the Liberal gov't has destroyed this province with legistlation intended to benefit big business. Time for a change, the sooner the better. 

In response to the statement that raising minimum wage will put the poorest out of work. Do you honestly think that a lack of profit is what is keeping wages down. The limiting factor is not profit in the corporate world but a lack of respect for employees. Most corporations pay minimum wage with CEOs making millions a year and growing. The divide between the rich in poor is on it's way to third world country extremes. The economy is strong only for Campbell's friend. There is more money then ever is BC and it is being funneled to a very fortunate few.

Also nice try blaming the victims of this disaster by claiming that these jobs are "negotiated contracts" and if you are anything short of stupid you can escape this poverty by simply finding a better job. Many salaries are based on a percentage above the minimum wage so now with a Bachelor of Science you can expect to make about $12/hour, about two thirds of what the livable wage is in BC. What a beautiful light at the end of the 4 year and $50,000 investment in yourself. Which might I add, since Campbell lifted the tuition freeze in the early 2000s, has caused tuition to more than triple. Don't forget it's often university students that are making minimum wage, so not only has it not kept up with inflation but also has not kept up with tuition hikes. It's clear that education is not a priority for Campbell, he either wants us so ignorant so that we aren't capable of questioning his corruption or so overworked in this rat race that he has created that we haven't the time to even notice what is happening. Is there any question as to why us from generation Y are apathetic? With our average wage and average price of housing in BC will we ever get out of our babyboomer parents house? Who, by the way, are always claiming that we are so lucky to have all the opportunity we have. 

People on minimum wage spend all of their money locally. How could a raise in the minimum wage not help everybody with a huge boost in spending dollars. 

Our wages must be competitive with our NAFTA trading partners. If wages were to rise substantially many employers would shift production and services to other countries to keep profits up. There would be an unwillingness to raise prices as people on minimum wage are not biggest group of consumers and therefore a price increase would impact those higher earning people that did not get a wage increase.

There will always be people at the bottom of the pole. A lot of these people make decisions that keep that at the bottom of the pole. Focus on yourself rather than your wage and tell the union bosses to get packing! 

Here we have Gordonomics where by fiscal 2013 the provincial debt will rise from $34B when the Gordo started to over $100B $55B on the book and $45 off the books for stockbroker IPP power and other equally stupid PPP's.

Gordonomics, while running up our debt with lucrative shweetheart deals with stockbroker buds and future benefactors, dening children food and shelter and their parents a decent wage, thinks buying Pirate power for 12.6 cents a kwh then paying California .5 cents a kwh to take it at night is good deal.

So Jim, given that Carole James with her giant bloated ego utterly bereft of any leadership qualities whatsoever is only one step behind the Gordo as public enemy number one, will you step up?

We have recall campaigns coming up, where we have a chance to do something about things like the mininum wage but the voters despise James for many very good reasons. She will be the biggest asset in the BCLiberal campaign.

Can you lead the cause to take over and give her the boot? Folks would then see the NDP as a reasonable alternative.

It would be good to finally have a leader who could kick Vaughn Palmer's and Bill Good's ass, instead of a zero talent coward who runs from every fight she's ever been in.

Then maybe the poor and low wage earners won't have to suffer, with James no longer electing and reelecting fascists over and over.
seth 

If the minimum wage goes up the goods and services that the poor use go up also. REALLY! So you are saying that services and goods have not gone up in oh what 9 or ten years. Nothing stops increasing just because minimum wage doesn't go up. Get Real, that is a very lame excuse. The same employers that are operating in other provinces are paying more there and can pay more here also. Keeping the minimum wage low just ensures the the top 10% make more to go to Hawaii with. How long can these same lame excuses go on.  

"Raising the minimum wage would instantly put large numbers of the poorest people out of work, because businesses can't magically increase their profits to pay the higher wages."

Did you think of this when you asked for a raise at your job? Why should anyone get a raise? If you don't make enough to pay for your employees, then the owner isn't a very successful owner. 

the cost of living in BC is so high especially in the lower mainland. even if the minimum wage was 20$ an hour you will still be below the poverty line. You can even buy a bathroom for 400,00$ in greater vancouver these days, absolutely ridiculous. 

Rational -- "There will always be people (wages I presume) at the bottom of the pole."

This may be a rational (and true) statement - the argument here is that the bottom of the pole be $10.00 per hour.

Resistance to unions usually starts with workers with wages beginning at $16.00. Resistance to unions declines as hourly wage declines - with most workers 'at the bottom of the wage pole' highly receptive to unions-based predominantly on 'nothing to lose' philosophy.

Focusing on agreements like NAFTA (outside provincial agreements) that most people don't understand - or only focusing on oneself - it precisely the divide and conquer technique that large corporations require as their support is with about 20% of the public in good times - one half that now.

Lastly, I would ask that you look at my comments re: the Long Gun Registry -- and read the first 10-12 pages of it-----------including the legal decision from the Supreme Court of Canada --- the basis they assert for a 2 billion dollar registry.

Businesses and governments as institutions are robbing us and dividing us -- and it is absolutely necessary that the rest of us look after one another -- without augmenting the size and cost of the institution.

A minimum wage must occur here in BC - perhaps with 'concessions' for those with less than 10 employees or annual income less than $150,000.

Ironically - it is these businesses with fewer employees who according to our research seem to be more inclined to pay better than minimum wage.

The franchises - big box Wal-Mart // Canadian Tire type companies are just selfish and greedy. Every community that is able should resist them.

(CT backed the HST)---don't shop there.

 

My own personal investigative experience - including going to Labour Unlimited - and working at a number of areas of employ - anecdotal as it may be - and given my own history of (only) owning my own businesses -has left me disgusted at what I have realized. Relatively speaking we are not far beyond the Industrial Revolution.

I am no social engineer - but if I were in a position to do so - I would raise the minimum wage to $10, reduce the probationary period to one month or 80 hours, whichever comes first (if an employer can't figure out if the worker is going to 'make it' within that time - they ought not be in business in B.C.) and permit those employees who are not protected by a union, where there are 30 or more employees in the company to join the BC Federation of Labour under General Labour Pool - pay a 'nominal' rate set by agreement of the province and the BC Fed - and be pleased to explain to any such employer - in any board room (or alley) of their choosing - why they will be pleased to participate.  

The amount of people making $10/hr or less has been dropping to the tune of 50 000 employees per year. As of 2009, around 190 000 British Colombians (45% of which were 25 or more years old which rules out the myth that these wages are exclusive to teenagers). If this trend continues then the problem should solve itself within 3.5 years. (information provided by Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey)

Also, minimum wage increases do little to reduce poverty. Especially when the living wage for 54.3% of the BC population (assuming living expenses of New Westminster reflect the average in the Vancouver Regional District) is $16.74/hr. Such increases will slightly reduce the severity of some of the impoverished because the majority of the poor don't work (either because they can't find it or because they've given up entirely).

Inflation has also been known to happen, but only in fast food restaurants where the majority of minimum wage workers are employed (thanks to fixed wage policy in franchising contracts). Much of this inflation has also been shown to be a result of speculation as opposed to increase in actual costs.

But, in support of minimum wage, evidence that a minimum wage increase cause increases in unemployment has declined as more information has become available and vanished entirely when this hypothesis is tested with a control group (Card & Krueger 1994, Card & Krueger 1995). It is believed that this myth came about as a result of confirmational bias among labour economists. Also, no evidence has been shown that a minimum wage increase causes a closure of existing businesses.

Anyways, if minimum wages are increased, which they should, it should be to ensure greater equity amongst the BC population and to regulate ridiculous franchise contracts made in an office somewhere out east where the cost of living isn't nearly as high. 

Nice -- Brock 

I wish Jim Sinclair would let his dues paying members like myself know how much his salary is. Corps have to legally publish theirs so stock holders can know. Why can't this apply to unions?