St. Albert businesses have joined a growing coalition across the province that has pledged not to cut youth minimum wage, following a roll back by the UCP government.
Last month, the Alberta government passed Bill 2, which made it legal for employers to pay youth workers $13 per hour. This only applies to the first 28 hours worked by a student while school is in session, after which they must be paid the full $15 per hour minimum wage.
A public online pledge was launched to create a directory of businesses dedicated to paying students a minimum wage of $15, and 10 St. Albert businesses are listed in the directory, from big franchises such as Costco and Husky to locally owned shops such as Sweet Boutique.
Sweet Boutique owner Laura Oladokun said she has been passionate about offering a living wage since opening shop in 2014, when she started paying $15 even though minimum wage was lower at the time.
“Of course I want to be a profitable business ... but I don’t want to do it at the expense of my employees. I think when they’re paid well they do a better job,” she said.
As a mom of three teenagers, she noted their expenses may not be the same as adults, but youth still need to be saving for things such as school.
Brian MacKay is responsible for starting the Alberta15 pledge, and said the initiative has drawn 260 businesses across 285 locations in Alberta to date.
“Sure it’s a far cry from everybody but it’s a good grassroots movement,” he said.
MacKay said he noticed a Reddit user looking to collect a list of businesses that would continue to pay youth $15 per hour, and figured it would be easier to build a website.
Having experience being 16 and supporting himself, MacKay said he knows how hard it is to dig yourself out of that situation.
“I think taking away from people in that situation just makes it harder for them to get out of the hole and become people that pay taxes and contribute more,” he said. “You’re just in a perpetual state of deciding whether you will eat vegetables and healthy, or make rent.”
Game OVR is another local business that has taken the Alberta15 pledge, and owner Eric Roberge said since opening in 2017 they have been paying $15 per hour – even before the previous NDP government’s minimum wage increase.
“I see this as only beneficial, even as a business owner. Yes, it might cost me more, but I value my employees and I think if I pay them a fair wage they’ll do a good job for me,” he said.
