Labour groups rallied in front of Windsor-West MPP Lisa Gretzky's office Friday afternoon to promote their $15 and fairness campaign.
The campaign is aimed at making changes to Bill 148 that will enforce equal pay for equal work. The changes are aimed toward gender equality and age equality.
"Ontario is one of the few provinces that has a different standard for students working. It's supposed to make them more competitive in the workplace, meaning that they're less experienced and don't have any proof of their reliability so that's the argument to have this different wage. But we're saying that, if you're doing the same job, you should be getting the same amount of money," says Terry Weymouth, chair of the Windsor District Labour Council Women and Equity committee.
The group also wants the $15 minimum wage for all workers not matter their age or their job.
"Today exceptions are included in the Act. We want to remove those exceptions and make this bill fair for everyone," says Weymouth.
Currently, there are exceptions in the bill for servers, students, and farm workers among others. Weymouth says assuming a server earns tips to offset the lower wage is putting that worker in a precarious position.
"You put that person who is trying to get a tip in a precarious position because they may be accepting harassment because their tip is on the line," says Weymouth.
Gretzky accepted petitions from the group and says she will present them to Premier Kathleen Wynne.
