Spoke in support of a living wage for city workers

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSm6V7PYa/ 

On January 21, I spoke to Council in support of Lucy Maloney and Pete Fry's motion to re-certify Vancouver as a living wage employer. Unfortunately, ABC voted down this motion. You can listen to my comments in the Tiktok video linked above or read my comments below:

As a Vancouver resident that benefits from the work of city employees and contractors that keep our city clean and keep our city running, I am speaking in support of this motion for Vancouver to recertify as a living wage employer.

Members of the public have heard this Council say loudly that it stands for affordability for Vancouverites. Supporting a living wage for city workers that provides what a full time worker needs to be able to afford basic essentials is key to delivering on commitments to making this City more affordable for all its residents. 

To vote this motion down would send the message that this Council believes that affordability is only a slogan for some Vancouverites, or that only some people should be able to live in Vancouver - and those individuals are not the ones that keep our city clean, keep us safe as security guards,  shelve our libraries and frankly help our city run. Instead, this Council is sending the message that affordability should come at city workers' expense. This cannot be Council's vision for an affordable Vancouver. 

Implementing a living wage is something the city can do. We have done it before. You've heard already today about municipal governments, public bodies and other organizations that provide a living wage. 

And in addition to being the right thing to do, and ensuring individuals can live with dignity with access to basic needs – there are wider benefits to the city. Research, coming out of Cambridge University, shows that paying living wages benefits employers and bolsters the local economy, reducing staff turnover, increasing productivity and increasing spending in local communities. 

To oppose this motion would send the message that people can help our city run, keep our city clean, help keep our city safe, but they don’t deserve the dignity of being able to afford basic amenities or to live in this city - this would be inconsistent with this Council's vocalized commitment to affordability.

City workers have done so much for this city – now we are asking to City Council to show them that their work is valued, and show that City Council will work for them. Please support this motion to re-certify Vancouver as a living wage employer.