Minimum wage is on the rise

  

New Brunswick students with both part time and full time jobs are breathing sighs of relief following announcements that minimum wage is on the rise.

The Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour unveiled their plans for a gradual increase in minimum wage on Jan. 5. The wage will increase to match the average for Atlantic provinces by Sept. 1, 2011.

Minimum wage, which currently $8.25, will rise to $8.50 on April 1 of this year and again to $9 per hour in September. In 2011, minimum wage will increase 50 cents to $9.50 on April 1 and reach the Atlantic average of $10 on Sept. 1.

“We want employers to grow their businesses while providing a fair wage, which will enable employees to improve their standard of living,” said Donald Arseneault, Minister for Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour in New Brunswick, in a press release issued on the date of the announcement.

“This balanced approach will continue to move us forward on our path to selfsufficiency and build a better future for New Brunswick.”

Minimum wage in New Brunswick has been among the lowest in the country for years, rivalled only by $8 per hour in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories also at $8.25. Minimum wage is highest in Ontario where employees currently make $10 an hour, a number that will rise by 25 cents this March. Holly Steeves, a second year student, currently works four jobs outside of school. Working at Co-op, West 49, tutoring at the Math Help Centre at UNBSJ and marking for a first year pre-calculus course takes up 30 hours of Steeves’ week. She makes minimum wage at West 49.

She said she was excited to hear that minimum wage is on the rise.

“I’m pumped. My dad, in Ontario, is always like ‘Our minimum wage is close to 11 bucks. Why are you still in New Brunswick?’ So I’m glad they’re trying to make it more even. Plus, it’s awesome for us students who need cash,” she said.

Steeves said she believes it is really important for these wages to increase, especially for students, because they are working in these traditional minimum wage positions.

“Most jobs that are convenient enough for students to have, like retail, fast food or call centres, which are usually the most flexible with hours, all pay minimum wage or like 50 cents above. So it’s great that we can actually get paid something that’s worth the travel time to pay for our tuition, books and transportation,” she said.

Kayla Brinston, an arts student, has worked at Sobeys since last March. She has moved up the payroll over time and no longer makes minimum wage. She was still interested to learn that minimum wages are on the rise in the province.

“Since I’m a student, and I don’t want my grades to suffer, I only work two or three days a week, and that means my pay cheque covers the bare minimum: food and rent. If I’m lucky I’ll have some left over,” she said.

“I think that’s great [that minimum wage is increasing]. I can work the few days I want and everything will be covered.”

The increase in minimum wage is related to the province’s Overcoming Poverty Together: The New Brunswick Economic and Social Inclusion Plan that was adopted in November. This plan aims to reduce poverty in the province by 50 per cent by 2015.