Living Wage Canada/Salaire Vital Canada is currently looking to fill up to 5 vacant volunteer board positions.
We are a federal non-profit that has three main endeavours: oversee the standardized calculation of regional living wage rates, certify and recognize employers who pay it, and the elimination of working poverty through research, advocacy and public policy dialogue.
(Signup form at bottom)
What is a Living Wage?
A living wage is not the same as the minimum wage, which is the legislated minimum all employers must pay and is set by provincial governments. The living wage reflects what people need to earn to make ends meet in their community. The living wage draws on community-specific data to determine the real expenses that worker must cover. Living wage employers voluntarily decide to pay a living wage and maintain their certification as new rates are calculated for their area.
Organizational Background
Starting in the mid-2000's living wage movements in B.C. and Southern Ontario started to calculate local living wage rates, primarily as means of combating child poverty. Rather than looking at child poverty as hardship to relieve through social programs, the living wage movement in Canada went straight to the source of the problem: under-waged parents unable to make ends meet.
In Ontario, several local campaigns began to meet regularly to share knowledge and coordinate calculation efforts. Eventually the Ontario Living Wage Network (OLWN) was formed in 2014.
The OLWN grew to include hundreds of certified living wage employers across 27 regions, with dozens of local organizers advocating for the movement. The OLWN also regularly communicated with their counterparts in B.C. and Alberta, who were running calculations and employer certification programs.
There are living wage advocates in nearly every province and territory of varying capacities, and they were regularly brought together in an informal "Living Wage Community of Practice", facilitated by the Tamarac Institute. With a mandate from these living wage organizers, we became a federally incorporated non-profit in early 2020.
Join Our Board
We seek to grow the organization to include as many provinces and territories as possible. Board representation from across the country is key to our success.
In addition to geographical representation we also look for diversity in identities protected by the Human Rights code, breadth of expertise/experience and, specialized skills and knowledge.
We currently have two full-time staff working remotely in Ontario who support our day-to-day operations.
Responsibilities
- Understand and demonstrate a commitment to Living Wage Canada/Salaire Vital Canada's mission and values
- Prepare for the 6 yearly board meetings by reading agendas, minutes, reports, and other documentation required for effective participation
- Work within organizational policies to act as a signing officer
- Together with other board members, provide informed direction for staff when needed, via both informal requests and at board quorums
- Act as a living wage champion by initiating and maintaining effective partnerships within new and existing personal and professional networks
- Keep up to date with issues and trends that affect the living wage movement in Canada
Qualities and Skills
- Driven to bring the number of Canadians in working poverty to zero
- Ability to play a role in facilitating the mapping of community assets (local knowledge, skills, resources, organizations, and networks)
- Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills
- Progressive values of social inclusion, diversity
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to initiate and maintain effective partnerships
If you would like to apply for membership on the Living Wage Canada/Salaire Vital Canada board, please fill in the form below. All responses are confidential. Upon completion, you will receive a link to securely upload your cover letter and résumé. Please consider highlighting your diversity (geographic, identity, specialized skill/knowledge) in your cover letter.
Deadline to apply: May 7th, 2022...now closed