NSFL President Calls Minimum Wage Increase a Missed Opportunity – Workers Deserve Better

October 29, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 29, 2024

Halifax, NS – Danny Cavanagh, President of the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour (NSFL) and a member of the Provincial Minimum Wage Review Committee, has issued a statement sharply criticizing Premier Tim Houston’s recent announcement of a minimal minimum wage increase, arguing it fails to deliver meaningful support for Nova Scotians struggling to survive on low wages.

“While any step to raise wages is positive, this particular increase merely scratches the surface, leaving workers to continue grappling with the rising cost of living,” said Cavanagh. “Premier Houston knows full well that minimum-wage earners across Nova Scotia face an endless struggle just to make ends meet. Yet he sidestepped his responsibility in April when the Minimum Wage Review Committee recommended an increase. It’s odd that in an election campaign, he seeks to rebrand himself as a champion of low-wage workers. But token gestures won’t cut it. This province needs a genuine commitment to a living wage.”

Nova Scotia’s minimum wage currently trails behind other Atlantic provinces, worsening the affordability crisis felt by low-wage workers. As the cost of essentials climbs, more families are forced to turn to food banks, and child and family poverty remains alarmingly high.

“These aren’t abstract figures,” emphasized Cavanagh. “They represent the lived experience of our friends, families, and communities across Nova Scotia. Watching workers pushed to their breaking point while the government responds with paltry, insufficient measures that barely move the needle on affordability is appalling. Nova Scotians deserve better, and it’s long overdue that the government steps up to the challenge.”

Cavanagh underscored that the call for a living wage transcends mere fair compensation; it’s vital to ensure that Nova Scotians can afford life’s necessities. “A genuine living wage addresses the actual costs facing workers every day. If Premier Houston wants to address poverty and improve the lives of Nova Scotians, he must commit to a minimum wage of at least $20.00 per hour for the 150,000 or more workers earning under that threshold.”

He concluded with a call to action for all Nova Scotians and political leaders to demand transformative action: “We must reject piecemeal policies and demand comprehensive reform. A living wage is the bare minimum our workers deserve for powering this province. It’s time to foster an equitable future in Nova Scotia, where every worker can respectfully support themselves and their families.”

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For more information or to arrange interviews contact: NSFL President Danny Cavanagh @ (902) 957-0822 

The Nova Scotia Federation of Labour is the provincial voice of the Labour Movement, representing 70,000 members in over 400 union locals.

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