What You Can Do to Influence Minimum Wage in Alberta MAY 12, 2016 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
What You Can Do to Influence Minimum Wage in Alberta MAY 12, 2016 Agenda Introduction Public opinion research: What Albertans and servers are saying and thinking Restaurants Canada Activities and Outreach Political Update:
Alberta Minimum Wage Research January 2016
“What do you think are the most important issues facing Alberta today?” MULTIPLE REPSONSES ACCEPTED 7% 7% 8% 10% 11% 21% 22% 45% 48% 66%
The economy Price of oil Healthcare Jobs Politics/leaders Environment Types of Issues: Economic 100+% Social 32% Environmental 18% Other 15% Minimum Wage (7%) by age groups, region:
Education Bill 6/Farm Safety Climate Change Minimum Wage Social issues mentioned by region:
Figure 1
Alberta Minimum Wage Research January 2016
26% 29% 33% 23% 31% 31% 28% 32%
12%
22% 19% 19% 18%
55% 61%
Support raising Alberta’s minimum wage to $15/hour Unsure 5%
34%
22%
60% “For each claim or statement, how much do you agree or disagree? Is that strongly or somewhat? Somewhat Strongly
Disagree Agree
Strongly Somewhat 57%
13% 14%
33% 32% 40%
Raising the minimum wage to $15 by 2018 Increase of 50% in 3 years is too much for businesses to handle Unsure 5% MW increase should be delayed until the economy improves Unsure 5% Raising MW too quickly will delay economic recovery Unsure 5%
Broad Conceptual Support But Most Albertans Seek a Delay due to Economy Figure 9
Alberta Minimum Wage Research January 2016
53% 52% 43% 6%
Know someone who once worked in industry Know someone who currently works in industry Once worked in industry Currently work in industry
“Do you currently or have you ever worked at a restaurant or bar, or do you know
someone who does?”
“Servers don’t need minimum wage because they make a lot
“I am willing to pay more at a restaurant to support minimum wage increases”:
“Service at restaurants will decline if minimum wage is increased”:
Figure 16
Alberta Minimum Wage Research January 2016
Timing
“It’s a big jump in terms of the dollars … how can they do this when the economy is so bad?” “How can we afford this? When I started working four years ago, oil was
First Time Job Seekers
“I definitely agree there should be an index. A 15-year-old doesn’t need $15 per hour.” “A $15-year-old can make $7-$8 an hour because he’s living at home and has all his expenses paid. There’s no reason to make it applicable to everyone.”
Impact on Servers and Restaurant Workers
“If food prices go up, I won’t pay tips.” “And with higher costs and higher price of food, prices will go up in restaurants.” “They will go to automation.”
Servers General Public
Alberta Minimum Wage Research January 2016
“Now that you have considered more statements related to a minimum wage increase in Alberta, has your opinion
Figure 18
Support, 55% Opposed, 40% Unsure, 5%
Alberta Minimum Wage Research January 2016
2% 7% 14% 27% 49% 78% 89% 2% 22% 11% 28% 25% 15% 5% 9% 25% 18% 13% 14% 3% 2% 77% 31% 32% 18% 7% 2% 2% 10% 16% 25% 13% 5% 2% 2% Open a new restaurant / bar Close your current business Implement a no-tip policy Explore self service solutions like touch pads Layoff staff Decrease labour hours Increase prices Very likely Somewhat likely Somewhat unlikely Very unlikely Not sure / I don't know
Political Analysis May 2 0 1 6
Political Analysis May 2 0 1 6
Jobs are being Lost Spending Less Eating Out Stimulate the Economy Create Jobs Saving More Willing to Delay Goals Be Pragmatic and Patient Delay Min Wage Increases “It will put small businesses out of business. An incremental raise can be tolerated, but not $5 an hour. It’s taking place over too short a time period. It should have been stretched.” Com m unications Strategy
Com m unications Strategy
Com m unications Strategy