The New Westminster school district has officially become a living-wage employer.
The Living Wage for Families campaign has approved School District 40 as a living-wage employer after a journey that began nearly three years ago.
It was May 2019 when the school board first voted to have staff investigate the idea of a living wage policy. In November 2020, the board voted officially in favour of becoming a living-wage employer.
Robert Weston, the district’s executive director of human resources, told trustees at their operations committee meeting Feb. 8 that the process had taken a little longer than the district hoped, but he was pleased to see it finalized.
The designation means all employees of the school district must earn at last the living wage for the region – which currently stands at $20.52 per hour.
Previously, Weston had told the board that the designation would not affect the school district’s budget because all its employees already earn well above that standard. The designation also applies to employees of any companies that are contracted to do work on school district sites or in district facilities.
Beyond employee pay, trustee Mark Gifford said the designation also has value in sending a message that the school district stands behind the importance of a living wage.
“It’s a great signal for the district to be sending,” he said. “It recognizes the importance of a living wage for families.”
The City of New Westminster is also a designated living-wage employer, as is the City of Burnaby.
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