Women, recent immigrants and visible minorities more likely to make minimum wage: Report / Winnipeg firefighters give up vacation for overtime cuts
Women, minorities more likely to make minimum wage in Ontario
TORONTO — Ontario’s women, recent immigrants and visible minorities are most likely to gravitate toward the bottom rung of the wage scale, according to a report from the Wellesley Institute.
Released by the Toronto-based policy research group on Oct. 8, Who Is Working for Minimum Wage in Ontario? noted more and more of the province’s workforce earns minimum wage.
The number of Ontarians earning minimum wage more than doubled between 2003 and 2011 (from 4.3 per cent to nine per cent).
Not surprisingly, young workers were more likely to make minimum wage. However, Sheila Block, the report’s lead author, said the number of adult employees (defined as workers over 25) more than doubled over the lifespan of the study.
"Many people’s image of a minimum wage worker is a teenager, perhaps at a fast food restaurant, earning some money to buy the newest smartphone. And a teenager flipping burgers is an accurate part of the picture," she said. "But we also need to look at the rest of the picture — minimum wage is not just a youth issue."
Whereas 39 per cent of those making minimum wage were under 25, 61 per cent earning between $10.25 and $14.25 per hour were over the age of 25.
As well, the number of visible minorities earning minimum wage was 47 per cent higher than the rest of the population that earns the same.
About 19 per cent of recent immigrants earn the minimum wage — representing more than twice that of all employees. Across the board, women dominated those jobs.
Block cited raising the minimum wage to $14 an hour as one way to combat the ever-widening financial gap between men and women, rich and poor.
"An increase in the minimum wage will raise the floor for all Ontario employees," she explained. "The increase will have a positive impact on those working for minimum wage and low-wage workers. The combined impact would reduce income inequality."
Earlier this summer, Ontario’s labour ministry struck an advisory panel to address its minimum wage rubric. It is expected to report back in early 2014.
Minimum wage was last raised in 2010, and currently sits at $10.25. That compares to $9.95 in Alberta, $10.25 in British Columbia and $10.45 in Manitoba, the latter of which increased this month.
Winnipeg firefighters give up vacation to cut down on overtime
WINNIPEG — Winnipeg’s firefighters have reached a deal with the city that avoids — for now — a bitter showdown over cutting overtime costs.
The fire department and its union have agreed that firefighters will give up a week of vacation to make up for a shortage of fire crews.
Alex Forrest, president of the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg, said the city needs to hire more people but until then, they will step up.
The fire department said overtime expenses have jumped 86 per cent in 2013, from $2 million to what could be $5.5 million by the end of the year.
Forrest said on any given day as many as seven of the city’s firefighters could be on overtime.
Winnipeg’s acting fire chief had proposed idling some trucks and cutting some crews to two firefighters from four, in a bid to cut the costs.
The union said it warned the department in June that overtime costs could skyrocket if vacancies in the ranks weren’t filled.
The city confirmed it will be hiring more firefighters soon but hasn’t said how many.
