living wage

The Academic Quadtrangle at SFU is pictured on a cloudy day. The grey tone of the building, sky, and pond stands in stark contrast to the dark green grass.
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January update on SFU’s contract workers

Lucaiah Smith-Miodownik January 12, 2026

Students returning to campus this week will be greeted by a new year, a fresh semester, and an updated syllabus. For the university’s contracted workers, however, the push for better wages continues. While the idea of being a living wage employer has been a topic of discussion for over a decade, it was not until July 2022 that SFU announced it would begin taking steps to obtain a living wage certification.  Most recently, the university provided an updated statement in January 2025, stating that “Simon Fraser University continues to implement a living wage for employees who regularly work on our…

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The SFU dining commons and food service workers interacting are pictured. The photo faces toward the ceiling, and there’s a sign that says “breads.”
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Dining workers speak to poor working conditions

Lucaiah Smith-Miodownik November 11, 2025

On October 7, a Reddit user posted to r/simonfraser concerning the possibility of a dining worker strike across SFU’s Burnaby campus. The message, which is from Contract Worker Justice (CWJ) @SFU, asserted that SFU “hasn’t budged on insourcing workers and…

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Person in wheelchair communicating with a colleague in the cafe
4 min 0 1906

Advocates demand removal of earnings limit for disabled individuals

Hannah Fraser July 16, 2024

A coalition of over 50 small business owners, non-profit leaders, and advocates have written an open letter demanding the BC Minister for Social Development and Poverty Reduction “remove the earnings limits for people receiving disability assistance so that they can…

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A TSSU sign which reads, “Love your teacher, disrespect scabs”
4 min 0 1834

SFU’s response to the TSSU picket lines has been poor

Anthony Houston June 29, 2023

As an international student, I tend to stay at the edges of certain aspects of Canadian life. I’ve strayed away from having an opinion about politics, healthcare, or worker’s rights, not because I don’t care about any of those things,…

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A red and white sign that says for hire
3 min 0 2230

Exercising Agency: Quiet quitting is a sign we need to address workplace inequality

Olivia Visser September 12, 2022

Recently, news companies and political commentators have latched onto the idea of “quiet quitting” — the practice of only putting in the minimum amount of work required for a job. This can involve avoiding working extra hours or tasks that…

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The photo is of the SFU Burnaby campus. The Academic Quadrangle and the reflection pond can be seen.
5 min 0 2016

SFU commits to offering a living wage to entire SFU community

Pranjali J Mann September 10, 2022

This month, the SFU Board of Governors passed a motion to begin the certification process for becoming a living wage employer.  According to Living Wage for Families BC, living wage is calculated by providing an estimated “bare-bones calculation” for wages…

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SFU workers are seen at SFU holding signs that read “Living Wage Now!” There are 11 people in the photo, most holding signs. One holds a megaphone and appears to be speaking.
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Food service workers to sign historic contract

Chloë Arneson May 10, 2022

Over the next three years, some SFU food service workers are expected to see up to a 17% increase in wages. This is the largest increase for food service workers in SFU’s history.  In their press release, UNITE HERE Local…

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two food service workers standing next to each other, the person on the right has a red “Living Wage” pin on their uniform
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SFU food workers rally for a living wage

Karissa Ketter March 28, 2022

The negotiation period for the new SFU food workers contract with Chartwells has begun since their contract ended on October 30, 2021. SFU food workers are wearing red buttons on their uniforms that read “Living Wage,” as part of a…

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big apartment in the background with a bicyclist in the foreground
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Rise in crime attributed to COVID-19 insecurity

Yelin Gemma Lee March 8, 2022

Two researchers have published a study on COVID-19’s impacts on Vancouver crime patterns. According to SFU News, the study’s key findings revealed areas with economic disadvantage experienced an increase in crime during the pandemic. The study is a collaboration between…

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BC needs a living wage already

EIC May 16, 2016

[dropcap]W[/dropcap]e live in one of the most expensive cities in the country, so why is our minimum wage the lowest? British Columbia has been through this before. Unlike in many jurisdictions, our minimum wage has not been linked to inflation…

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