NEW WESTMINSTER—After several years of lobbying SD 40, CUPE 409 is pleased that the district adopted the Living Wage policy on November 24.
“This is great news,” said CUPE 409 President Marcel Marsolais. “We want to make sure that people are paid appropriately. This is another example of unions benefitting all workers.”
Marsolais praised CUPE 409 Labour Management representatives and members for endorsing the New Westminster and District Labour Council living wage initiative.
“Thanks also to our CUPE Labour-endorsed board of education trustees, for supporting a living wage policy in New West schools,” said Marsolais.
Living wage employers raise the bar for wages beyond minimum wage. The living wage initiative is supported by unions to ensure that workers who provide contracted services funded with public sector funds are paid a living wage. The current living wage rate for Metro Vancouver is $19.50 per hour, assuming the employer provides no benefits.
The SD40 living wage policy will be implemented in April 2021. SD40 is the first school district in B.C. to adopt the Living Wage policy. The City of New Westminster became a “Living Wage Employer” in January 2011, a Canadian first.
