Council debating mandatory living wage for City projects
A motion up for debate by Regina’s city council would see a living wage become a contract requirement for crews working on City projects.
It would make it mandatory for successful bidders to pay their workers at least $16.95 per hour and would also be considered a contract condition.
The Saskatchewan Construction Association (SCA) is opposed to the idea.
“There probably are some construction labourers working in certain circumstances that are making above minimum wage but below the living wage, but I think those scenarios are very few and far between,” CEO of SCA Mark Cooper said. “The average construction wage is over $33 per hour and that is for everybody across the spectrum.”
The matter will come before city council this week (Aug. 17) and the proposal could go beyond construction workers, to include other contractors like building cleaners and security staff.
Labour unions think the motion is a good idea.
“We need to know that people in our city are working hard, they’re getting paid fair wages so that they can live and keep their families in our cities as well,” president of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour Lori Johb said.
City administration is expected to recommend against a living wage requirement but was not available for an interview with CTV News.
The final decision will be in the hands of city council.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The World Health Organization said on Friday that the current overall public health risk posed by H5N1 bird flu virus is low, but for those with exposure to infected birds or animals the risk of infection is considered low-to-moderate.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.