Minimum wage rises on May Day
Minimum wage in Quebec rises to $16.60 an hour this Friday – May Day. Does anyone have info about actions or marches that day?
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DavidH 13:23 on 2026-04-26 Permalink
The big unions march is on Saturday May 2nd. I’m sure other groups have more lively things planned for May day itself.
anton 13:57 on 2026-04-26 Permalink
Doesn’t seem like a lot, given the exchange rate. In Germany it’s 14 Euro (22 CAD), even though overall I’d say people are poorer and costs are kind of lower.
R T 14:25 on 2026-04-26 Permalink
Germany’s minimum wage is pretty high, and Germany has a more productive economy than Quebec. The minimum wage in Germany is the highest in the EU by purchasing power and around 60% of median hourly earnings (9th in EU when coneverted to monthly earnings), while Quebec’s median wage is roughly 50% the median. Most EU countries with a minimum wage (5 don’t have one) fall into the ~50-60% range.
How is it that Germany’s minimum wage has 37% more purchasing power than Québec’s when it’s only 10pp higher compared to their respective medians? Because German workers are about 34% more productive per hour worked. Quebecers close what would be a large gap in living standards by working about 20% more hours per year.
Ian 15:08 on 2026-04-26 Permalink
From my union:
MAY 1st at 3 p.m., leaving from Dawson, and another one at 6 p.m., leaving from Square-Victoria.
MAY 2nd: Large demo for International Workers’ Day: This intersyndical protest will depart from the Georges-Étienne-Cartier Statue in the Plateau at 1 pm.
SMD 18:20 on 2026-04-26 Permalink
Square Victoria will be hosting a fair of sorts starting at 4pm on May Day, with different groups hosting information stands and a free bike tune-up station. Then the speeches and march get going around 6pm.
Ian 18:49 on 2026-04-26 Permalink
@R T If Germans are 34% more productive, they are experiencing 34% more wage theft.
Productivity has gone up decade over decade way faster than wage growth.
When I worked corporate we had a target of 20% growth every year. After hitting it for 5 years straight I asked my manager if this meant we would see our wages doubled. He gave me a very dirty look.