Workers in Windsor want equal-pay for equal-work.
More than 40 people gathered in front of Windsor-west MPP Lisa Gretzky's office on Tecumseh Rd. E. and McDougal Ave. to protest some aspects of Bill 148 Friday.
The new legislation would see the minimum wage go up to $15 per hour for most workers in Ontario, but there are some exceptions. For example, a server currently make $10.10 per hour compared to $11.60 per hour due to the expectation of tipping, that wage-gap would continue under Bill 148.
The Windsor District Labour Council's Terry Weymouth says that's just one example of many. She says there are too many loopholes allowing employers to pay people less money to do the same work.
"You've made some changes but you have exceptions, rescind those exceptions. We want to make this fair for everybody," says Weymouth. "The $15 per hour minimum wage, there's definitely some exceptions for students, farmers, servers."
The Women in Equity Committee Chair says women still make 70 cents on the $1 compared to men.
She tells AM800 News — with the Bill heading towards its third and final reading — the time to make changes is now.
"While we do believe there are some aspects of Bill 148 that are good, we think there's lots of parts there that have fallen short, especially for part-time workers, especially for women," she says. "We're looking to try and bring amendments before it becomes legislation."
Gretzky told the crowd some staffing agencies prey upon part-time workers doing the same work for half the pay.
Most often the temporary employee is laid off from a job before they get hired on at full wage after 90-days. She says Bill 148 also needs to legislate equal-pay-rules for temporary employees.