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B.C. Federation of Labour's Air Force to make aerial demand for $10 minimum wage over Legislature Thursday
October 24, 2007
The $10 NOW Campaign to raise BC's sorry minimum wage and win a pay hike for 250,000 low-paid workers will take to the air October 25th over the Legislature in Victoria.
A giant eighty meter by 25 meter banner towed by the B.C. Federation of Labour's "air force"-a single engine plane-will circle overhead at lunch on Thursday with a message urging the Campbell government to boost the minimum wage to $10.
The banner will also invite British Columbians to sign the $10 NOW on-line petition at www.bcfed.ca.
B.C. Federation of Labour President, Jim Sinclair says the fly-over is part of the labour movement's efforts to mark the November 1st anniversary of the last increase in the minimum wage six years ago in 2001. A lobby day at the Legislature is also set for October 31st.
Sinclair is urging BC Liberal MLAs to look overhead tomorrow.
"We'd like to think that politicians will think long and hard about the message," says Sinclair. "They should remember that while they gave themselves massive pay boosts, they've forgotten to deal with a wage increase for a quarter of a million workers.
"Six years without an increase is too long," Sinclair says.
The banner will also circle above the University of Victoria on its way to and from Vancouver.
Close to 40,000 British Columbians have signed the Federation's $10 NOW petition so far. Some 30 municipal councils, the Union of BC Municipalities, important community organizations and even some business groups all back efforts to win a higher minimum wage.
According to recent statistics, about 115,000 BC workers earn $8 an hour or less, while an additional 135,000 workers earn less than $10.
For a graphic of the banner, click here.
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For more information: contact Jessie Uppal at 604-430-1421, cell: 604-220-0279.
