Council moves living-wage policy to back burner

Calgary city council has postponed to next winter a decision on adopting a living wage policy, asking instead for a report on how much it might cost the city.

The policy is designed to move workers above the poverty line, by requiring the city and companies it has contracts with to pay workers at least $12 an hour with benefits, or $13.25 without, well above Alberta's minimum wage of $8.40.

By an 8-7 vote Monday, council sent the concept back for more study on the potential impact on the city's workforce, who would be included and how much it might cost. A report is due back next January.

Some aldermen feel the city should lead the way in providing its workers enough pay to live on.

"The minimum wage is below the poverty level," said Ald. Druh Farrell Monday. "What we're suggesting is a living wage which is at the poverty level and 125 American cities, the land of free enterprise, seem to have managed it."

But others, like Ald. Joe Connelly, point out the wage change would affect about 700 mainly part-time, casual employees.

"What we're doing here is looking at skateboard [park] monitors, babysitters and concession-stand individuals who are working part-time but we're giving them a half-million dollar raise, to say nothing of what this is going to do to collective bargaining," he said.

"At the end of the day, if we really want to do something for the people of Calgary that are in need, then we should do it and stay away from symbols that are going to cost us."