80 Employers call on party leaders to take action to close wage gaps

On International Equal Pay Day, a coalition of 80 small business owners, non-profit directors, and senior HR leaders are urging party leaders to use their platforms to implement policies to close pay gaps.
In an open letter addressed to all party leaders, the group, which employ thousands of workers in BC, provide a series of recommendations on actions the next government should take to close the wage gap, by lifting pay and lowering costs.

Dear Party Leaders,

Today is International Equal Pay Day, and we know that paying a living wage is a key step in closing gender and racial pay gaps. In BC, women and racialized workers are much less likely to earn a living wage than their counterparts.

We are all proud Living Wage Employers, committed to ensuring that our workers and contractors earn enough to pay the bills and have a decent standard of living. Collectively, we employ thousands of workers across BC.

We have seen real value in paying our staff a living wage. It helps us live our values, improve staff morale and set an example for others.

Over the past few years, as the cost of living has risen, so has the living wage. There is currently an $8 an hour gap between the minimum and the living wage. We remain dedicated to being a Living Wage Employer, but it isn’t always easy.

We call on the next government to take decisive action to stop the wage gap from spreading out of control. Here are some steps your party could take to close the wage gap, through lifting wages and lowering costs:

• Stop large rent increases. Through building more affordable housing and introducing an emergency measure to control rent increases between tenancies.
• Lower food prices. Develop and implement policies to address the growing issue of food unaffordability and insecurity in BC.
• Create better rural transit. Expand the BC transit network in rural areas so that working families don’t have to take on the cost of two cars to get around.
• Become a Living Wage Employer. Lead by example through becoming a certified Living Wage Employer for all direct and contracted Government of BC workers, including those working for non-profit organizations that receive funding from Government.
• Increase the minimum wage to at least $20 an hour, with further increases planned out to get to the living wage.
• Enact intersectional pay equity laws to address entrenched wage discrimination

If we are to close gender and racial pay gaps, then we need to close the gap between the minimum and the living wage. We hope that if elected, your party will commit to doing that.

Signed,

Kristian Miller General Manager 2400 Motel
Devlin Fenton CEO Arch Engineers
Birinder Walia Principal Archos Engineering Consultants
Katya Potapova Operations Director Bakau Consulting
Michelle Leroux Co-Owner Bandit Farms Property Services
Ryan Hunt Executive Director BC Museums Association
Rowan Burdge Provincial Director BC Poverty Reduction Coalition
Jessica Hobden Owner Blue Lime Property Maintenance Ltd.
Mary McKay COO Brightside Community Homes Foundation
Ali Pearce Director of Operations Briteweb
Jeffrey Cramer Finance & Operations Director Café Etico
Kevin Millsip, Director, CCPA-BC Office
Kurt Johnston CEO CleanStart Property Services, 
Tina Hamlin Owner Coast Consignment
Jonathan Cook Employer Coast Mountain Accounting
Jeffrey Cramer Finance & Operations Director CoDevelopment Canada Association
Shelley Cook Executive Director Community Social Planning Council for Greater Victoria
Matthew Lowe Director CommunityPlus - Home Care & Nursing
Stephanie McGowan Executive Director Comox Valley Head Injury Society
Christopher Bate Executive Director Comox Valley Senior Support Society
Ann-Marie Cooper HR Manager Convertus Group
David McInerney Owner Creative Therapy Consultants
Aaron Cruikshank President CTRS Market Intelligence
David Coulson President David Coulson Design Ltd.
Fleming Blishen Owner/Manager Duchess Early Learning Centre
Toby Barazzuol President Eclipse Awards - maker of fine custom trophies
Dave Wodchid Owner Elemental Gardens
Melodie Reynolds Founder Eluma Beauty Inc/Elate Beauty
Karen Watt CEO Excel Personnel Inc
Debbie Banerjee and Vanya McDonell Co-Executive Directors Fairfield Gonzales Community Association
Dan Huang-Taylor, Executive Director, Food Banks BC
Carla Pellegrini Executive Director, Food Stash Foundation
Caroline Tremblay CED Coordinator Golden Community Economic Development Society
Karyn French Executive Director Greater Victoria Police Victim Services
Jason Chiu Managing Partner HammerSense Consulting Inc
Sehar Nayani CEO HR Transcend
Samuel Zambon Alves C.E.O. Indiana Bones Dog Adventures
Adelie Houle-Lachance Human Resources Representative Jenkins Construction Ltd.
Kristy Calvert People & Culture Manager Jillian Harris Design Inc
Sarah Bedo HR Generalist Kootenay Career Development Society
Leslie Hoolaeff COO Lover's Tempo
Rachelle Briscoe Owner & Founder Low Key Dog Walks
Chris Cosgrove Hospital Administrator Mahalo Veterinary Hospital
Patricia Massy Owner Massy Books
Jason Nelson General Manager MSR Solutions Inc.
Montana Burgess Executive Director Neighbours United
Elizabeth Fisher CEO OneSpace Community Inc.
Lynn Ross Executive Director PAL Vancouver
Kaila Faminoff HR Director PARC Retirement Living
Natalie Duronio COO Point Blank Creative
Christopher Brayshaw Owner Pulpfiction Books
Mike Jasmer Owner Quality One Home Services
Mirela Alika Operations and Services Manager Rafael Santa Ana Architecture Workshop Inc
Tim Rurak President Ralph's Radio Ltd.
Fabien Gendron CEO Reach CPA
Laura White Founder Revy Web Design Inc.
Brandon Dallamore Owner ServiceXCEL
Ash Brar Excutive Director Sher Vancouver
Aaron Gustafson Founder/CEO Sitka Property Services
Morag Carter Executive Director Skills Centre
Sonia Strobel Co-founder and CEO Skipper Otto Community Supported Fishery
Sarah Ballantyne Owner Spiritleaf Vernon Cannabis
Leah Langolis, Store Owner, Stay Wild Natural Health 
Ana Cadena Office Manager studioHuB architects
Sara Zieleman Executive Director Sunshine Coast Community Forest Ltd.
Meris McArthur Human Resources Manager SWAN Vancouver
Kevin Millsip e.d. The Columbia Institute
Amanda Zais Owner The Tax Pros Income Tax Service
Meredith Hamstead CEO thinkBright Homes Ltd.
Alison Bosley Interim Director UNIT/PITT Society for Art and Critical Awareness
Genesa Greening, Chief Executive Officer, Vancity Community Foundation
Michelle Reining Executive Director Vancouver Food Runners
Pam Prewett Executive Director Victoria Brain Injury Society
Katherine Wright Operations Manager ViRTUS
Dr Kristy Pahl Human Resources Director Watson Design Inc.
Raji Mangat Executive Director West Coast LEAF
Jesse Woodman Owner West Coast Moss Removal
Pamela Charron Executive Director Worker Solidarity Network
Kevin McLeod CEO Yardstick Services Inc.
Kris Cox Operations Manager Zenith Commissioning Consulting

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