For Immediate Release
February 15, 2014
MEDIA RELEASE
Rally for $14 minimum wage in heart of Toronto retail sector
TORONTO: This Family Day weekend, community members and labour activists will continue to call on Premier Kathleen Wynne to raise the minimum wage to $14 and ensure decent work for Ontario families at a lively rally in the heart of Toronto’s retail sector.
What: Rally for $14 minimum wage and decent work
Date: Saturday, February 15, 2014
Time: 1:15pm
Location: Rally starts at Yonge and Dundas Square
Photo opportunity: Colourful and engaging visuals, including hundreds of balloons, with lively community participation
Although Premier Kathleen Wynne responded to public pressure and recently announced a minimum wage hike of 75 cents an hour, an $11 minimum wage still leaves workers 16% below the poverty line, locking many families into poverty.
Assembling at Yonge Dundas Square, participants will reach out to shoppers with colourful and engaging visuals and lively actions that demonstrate the need for fair wages and decent work for Ontario families.
Speakers will include:
Sid Ryan, President, Ontario Federation of Labour
Jerry Dias, National President, Unifor
Andria Babbington, Vice President, Toronto and York Region Labour Council
Pinky Paglingayen, leader from Campaign to Raise the Minimum Wage
For more information on the campaign, visit: www.raisetheminimumwage.ca.
Follow the campaign Twitter account @fairwagesnow and hashtag #14now.
The Campaign to Raise the Minimum Wage is coordinated by ACORN, Freedom 90, Mennonite New Life Centre, OCAP, Ontario Campaign 2000, Parkdale Community Legal Services, Put Food in the Budget, Social Planning Toronto, Toronto and York Region Labour Council and Workers’ Action Centre.
The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario.
-30-
For information:
Sonia Singh, Campaign to Raise the Minimum Wage
(647) 235-6912 or (416) 531-0778, ext. 221 or sonia@workersactioncentre.org
Joel Duff, Ontario Federation of Labour
(416) 707-0349 or jduff@ofl-org.flywheelsites.com
