Media Advisory: Young Worker Obstacle Course on Lawn of Queen's Park Shows Necessity for a $14 Minimum Wage

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 12, 2014) - Wed. May 14, students and young workers will set up a obstacle course on the lawn of Queen's Park to demonstrate the hurdles students face juggling rising tuition fees and low-wage work. The event is part of the ongoing campaign calling on party leaders and candidates to support a $14 minimum wage in Ontario.

The minimum wage increase to $11 scheduled for June 1 leaves workers struggling at 16 per cent below the poverty line. Students under the age of 18 will only see their wages rise to $10.30 per hour.

As it stands, students need to work at least 20 weeks at minimum wage to pay for a year's worth of undergraduate tuition fees - more weeks than there are in a summer. Two decades ago, eight weeks of work could cover annual tuition fees.

Actions for a $14 minimum wage and decent work will be taking place in communities across Ontario during the election.

For more information on the campaign, visit: www.raisetheminimumwage.ca.

Follow the campaign Twitter account @fairwagesnow and hashtag #14now.

The Campaign to Raise the Minimum Wage is coordinated by ACORN, Freedom 90, Mennonite New Life Centre, OCAP, Ontario Campaign 2000, Parkdale Community Legal Services, Peel Regional Labour Council, Put Food in the Budget, Social Planning Toronto, Toronto and York Region Labour Council, Unifor and Workers' Action Centre.

The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario.

The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario represents more than 300,000 colleges, undergraduate and graduate students in all regions of the province.