Alberta's labour movement launched the 15 is Fair campaing Friday, June 17th.

At a press conference in Edmonton, the Alberta Federation of Labour officially announced its support of the NDP's promise to raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2018.

"If someone is working full-time, they should not be below the poverty line," Alberta Federation of Labour President Gil McGowan said. "Anyone earning less than $15 an hour lives below the poverty line. It's a reality for hundred of thousands of Albertans."

The campaign comes in part as a response to Restaurant Canada's "Not The Time" movement.

Alberta Federation of Labour calls the unwittingly opposition of the minimum wage increase "fearmongering", and says that there is little evidence to support the restaurant industry's statements.

"All these horror stories that are predicted by low wage employers, they haven't materialized when minimum wages have been increased," said McGowan. "And on the contrary, what the evidence shows is that minimum wage increases have actually led to employment gains."

A website is launching for the campaign, which features a letter-writing tool that encourages Albertans who support the minimum wage to write their MLA.

"During the last election campaign, the NDP won in part because Albertans overwhelmingly supported their promise to raise the minimum wage," said McGowan. "While there are vested interests campaigning loudly against the minimum wage, there's a quite majority who support the idea that workers hould be paid fairly, and who aren't being heard in this debate. We want to be heard."

The launch was held at The Local Omnivore, an Edmonton restaurant whose ownership and management support increasing the minimum wage.

15 is Fair's website is yet to launch, with no word on when it is expected.

 

Read More:

-Restaurants Vs. The Minimum Wage