Council's living-wage supporters hopeful summer student workers will get a raise

A motion to give City of Hamilton summer students a living wage died last month on a split vote – but after a recent report with a cheaper compromise, some councillors are hopeful many of those workers could still see a raise during the city's budget process later this month.

Dundas Coun. Alex Wilson (Ward 13) said they think it's possible fellow councillors unwilling to spend nearly $800,000 to bring all summer students up to the living wage will be more amenable to a new proposal to give a smaller raise to those earning the least.

The idea, contained in an information report submitted by the city's executive director of human resources to council last week, would see unionized summer students' pay grow from the 2023 budgeted wage of $16.40 to $17.20 per hour. It'll cost the city $214,500.

Wilson said some councillors thought adding $800,000 to the budget was "too far, too fast."

Wilson said it's likely council will revisit the issue on the final day of budget proceedings on March 29, where the city is poised to approve a 6.7 per cent budget increase.

Ward 3 Coun. Nrinder Nann also told CBC Hamilton she would "certainly" support a raise proposal on budget day.

"Incremental progress is better than no progress," said Nann, who has long been a vocal living-wage advocate.

The city is currently accepting applications for student summer jobs, until March 31. 

In Hamilton, the living wage is $19.05 per hour – a figure the Ontario Living Wage Network (OLWN) and its local partners raised by nearly two dollars last fall to reflect the increased cost of living.

OLWN says a living wage is the minimum amount workers need to make ends meet and participate in their communities.

It varies by municipality and doesn't account for savings, retirement planning or debt repayments, notes a Feb. 7 city report.

That day, at council's general issues committee, Wilson proposed a motion to give students a living wage and have staff try to get the city certified as a living wage employer as defined by OLWN.

That motion failed on an 8-8 tie.

Council members who supported the motion: Tammy Hwang (Ward 4), John-Paul Danko (Ward 8), Alex Wilson, Nann, Craig Cassar (Ward 12), Mayor Andrea Horwath, Maureen Wilson (Ward 1) and Cameron Kroetsch (Ward 2).