The YWCA Moncton is one of several organizations pushing for pay equity in the province.
Executive Director Jewell Mitchell says when they think of pay equity, they think about traditionally female roles, being undervalued and underpaid.
They often see women coming in to their centres, who can’t make ends meet for themselves and their families.
“We see homelessness that presents with that. We lots of poverty style issues that their income isn’t going far enough because they are working perhaps in a field that they really enjoy and are skilled at, but they are making minimum wage. $11 an hour is not a living wage. It can create things like food insecurity, or housing insecurity. They may stay in an unhealthy relationship or a violent situation, or a mouldy home because they can’t afford something different.”
More than twelve New Brunswick organizations came together in Moncton this week to engage with provincial political parties about pay equity in anticipation of the fall elections this year.
