WINDSOR, Ontario–Libro Credit Union here announced it will pay its employees a “living wage.”
A living wage is not the same as a minimum wage, which is the legal minimum all employers must pay their staff. Instead, it reflects what a family needs according to the actual costs of living in a specific community, according to the Windsor Star.
“Living wage is one strategy in reducing poverty and increasing positive outcomes,” Libro Credit Union president Stephen Bolton told the Windsor Star. “Being a recognized living wage employer fosters social inclusion and supports the quality of life of our staff.”
Libro Credit Union announced that it will pay its employees at or above the highest living wage rate across southwestern Ontario’s 25 communities.
In Huron Perth, for instance, the living wage is $16.47, which is the highest in the region and it will be the rate the credit union will pay its staff. According to Living Wage Canada, a living wage in Windsor is $14.15, the Star reported.
“Growing regional prosperity goes further than financial transactions and balance sheets,” Bolton said. “It’s about addressing complex social issues in southwestern Ontario and working collaboratively with organizations to help build and strengthen the communities we passionately serve.”
Currently there are 29 employers that have joined the Living Wage campaign in the Windsor-Essex region, according to the Windsor Star.