Waterloo - While the Region of Waterloo considers the idea of adopting a “living wage”, something no other municipal government in Canada has yet to do, Sean and Amy Zister, the owners of Seven Shores Urban Market and Café in Uptown Waterloo, have decided the time to do so is now.

A “living wage” is the hourly rate a full time employee would need to earn for a full year in order to live above the poverty line. According to a 2003 report put out by Opportunities Waterloo Region “A Living Wage for Waterloo Region”
“Living wage campaigns have been used successfully in cities throughout the United States. Studies have found that implementing a living wage has not caused inflation, hindered economic growth, resulted in job losses, chased away businesses, or hurt company’s profits. In fact, studies indicate that raising the living wage lowers the burden on social services, reduces inequality, exerts pressure to raise low wages just above the minimum wage, increases rates of home ownership, and education. Businesses also benefit from an increase in wages from reduced turn over, and higher worker morale and productivity.”

Since September, 2009 all of the staff at Seven Shores, including students, have been paid $13.62 an hour. According to Sean Zister “Once we realized that we could actually pay people a living wage, not only did it make sense from a business perspective, but it was a no-brainer. Our business is about building community capacity locally as well as globally, we buy from local farmers and local businesses, we source organic produce, our menus reflect what is available seasonally, and our coffee and gift products are Fair Trade or support positive social change businesses and organizations. It is our goal to build a successful social enterprise which helps reduce climate change, encourages people to eat better food and to do it in a way that is both fun and convenient to the customer. When it came to paying our employees a living way, well you can either stumble the mumble or walk the talk. We prefer to walk.”