10元最低工资

有關10元最低工資的運動

許多人會將提高最低工資歸功於安省政府的恩賜。實際上，它是工會組織聯合其他社區組織領導的運動。它起源於貧困人群的增加，許多家庭需要同時做兩到三份工作才可以提供孩子們的必須支出。在邁克.哈利斯 (Mike.Harris) 政府凍結最低工資8年以後，繼任的自由黨政府在2006年只將最低工資提高到7.75元。拿最低工資的人們還是不能改變他們的貧困狀況。

基於低工資對所有工薪階層，尤其是移民和有色人群危害的理解，勞工議會和它的社區聯盟組織發起了全省範圍內的，上千人參加的簽名活動。市鎮大廳會議在全省範圍內召開，無論長幼都竟相分享最低工資的提高將對他們家庭的幫助。勞工議會主席約翰.卡瑞特(John.Cartwright) 強調: 只有29%的低收入工作是在小型企業，大部分低收入的工作是在沃爾瑪或麥當勞等跨國企業，或者是大型職業介紹所。反駁了認為最低工資的提高將對小型企業造成傷害的論調。

這個運動獲得了社會各階層人士的共鳴。在全省範圍內廣泛深入的組織和聲援下，自由黨政府在2007年聲明將最低工資每年提高0.75元直到達到現在的10.25元。基於提高所有人們生活水平的願望，勞工議會在3年內為成百上千的非工會會員的工人們爭取到工資的提升。這個運動昭示大眾工會不僅只是關心他們自己的會員，而是為所有工薪階層的工作安全標準，公共醫療和教育，以及合理收入等各項福利鬥爭。

有关10元最低工资的运动

许多人会将提高最低工资归功于安省政府的恩赐。实际上，它是工会组织联合其他社区组织领导的运动。它起源于贫困人群的增加，许多家庭需要同时做两到三份工作才可以提供孩子们的必须支出。在迈克.哈利斯 (Mike.Harris) 政府冻结最低工资8年以后，继任的自由党政府在2006年只将最低工资提高到7.75元。拿最低工资的人们还是不能改变他们的贫困状况。

基于低工资对所有工薪阶层，尤其是移民和有色人群危害的理解，劳工议会和它的社区联盟组织发起了全省范围内的，上千人参加的签名活动。市镇大厅会议在全省范围内召开，无论长幼都竟相分享最低工资的提高将对他们家庭的帮助。劳工议会主席约翰.卡瑞特 (John.Cartwright) 强调: 只有29%的低收入工作是在小型企业，大部分低收入的工作是在沃尔玛或麦当劳等跨国企业，或者是大型职业介绍所。反驳了认为最低工资的提高将对小型企业造成伤害的论调。

这个运动获得了社会各阶层人士的共鸣。在全省范围内广泛深入的组织和声援下，自由党政府在2007年声明将最低工资每年提高0.75元直到达到现在的10.25元。基于提高所有人们生活水平的愿望，劳工议会在3年内为成百上千的非工会会员的工人们争取到工资的提升。这个运动昭示大众工会不仅只是关心他们自己的会员，而是为所有工薪阶层的工作安全标准，公共医疗和教育，以及合理收入等各项福利斗争。

The Story of the $10 Minimum Wage Campaign

There are some who might credit the provincial Ontario government for its benevolence in raising the minimum wage. In reality however, the $10 minimum wage was a campaign led by many unions and community groups because of the rise in poverty and the increasing need of parents to work two or three jobs to provide a livelihood for their children. After the Mike Harris government froze the minimum wage for eight years, the succeeding Liberal government only slightly increased it to $7.75 by 2006. For full-time minimum wage workers, that still meant living in poverty.

Understanding that low wages harms all workers, especially immigrants and workers of colour, Labour Council worked with community allies to develop a strategy of gathering thousands of signatures on a provide-wide petition. Town hall meetings were arranged across the province; young and old alike came to share their stories of how a minimum wage increase could help their families. During these discussions, Labour Council President John Cartwright highlighted that only 29% of low-wage jobs are in small businesses. Most low-wage jobs are with multinational corporations like Walmart or McDonalds, or huge temp agencies – contrary to the argument that minimum wage increases would mainly impact small business owners.
This campaign resonated with people in all walks of life. Because of the deep organizing and broad support across the province, the Liberal government announced in 2007 that they would be raising the minimum wage by $0.75 each year to its current rate of $10.25. Desiring to raise the standards for everybody, labour had bargained a significant wage increase over three years for hundreds of thousands of non-unionized workers. This campaign was a way to show workers that unions aren’t only worried about their own members, but fight for the welfare of all workers on everything from safety standards, to healthcare, education, and decent incomes.