Spinnakers becomes the first Living Wage brewery and liquor store in BC

Spinnakers Brewpub & GuestHouses and Spinnakers Spirit Merchants is the first employer in the brewery industry to commit to ending working poverty, by paying all its staff and contracted workers a Living Wage

“Many workers in the hospitality, retail, food and beverage processing industries are essentially front-line workers, interacting with the public, carefully managing COVID-19 risks to keep us safe, fed and cared for. It is vital that the integrity of our agriculture / food & beverage supply and distribution chains are maintained and supported and that for their contributions, all of our team members returned to work last spring assured that they earn a living wage in order to be able to pay for essentials for their families.” Paul Hadfield, Spinnakers

The living wage is the hourly amount a family needs to cover basic expenses. The calculation is based on a two-parent family with two children – the most common family unit in BC – with each parent working full-time.

The Living Wage for Greater Victoria is $19.39 an hour. All staff at Spinnakers earn at least $20 an hour, with tips paid on top

“We’re delighted that Spinnakers has committed to paying their staff a Living Wage. This will make such a difference to low wage workers. We invite other employers to join the Living Wage movement,” said Anastasia French, Living Wage for Families Campaign Organizer.

Certifying as a Living Wage Employer is a voluntary commitment employers make to invest in their communities and local economies.