It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating to workers and business owners, but as the Omicron wave continues to infect hundreds of new cases a day in Newfoundland- and Labrador, advocates say stronger supports are needed for both.
During two episodes last week, CBC Intercom examined the challenges faced by employees and employers.
Alyse Stuart is president of the Common Front of Newfoundland and Labrador, a group behind a new labor action initiative called the Workers Action Network, which she says will stand up for workers across the province.
“What every person wants in every facet of their life is to feel protected, to feel safe, and to enjoy what they’re doing,” she said.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Common Front is the group behind Fight for 15 and Fairness, a campaign calling on the provincial government to raise the minimum wage to $15. Newfoundland and Labrador’s minimum wage is $12.75, the fourth lowest in Canada.
“Having a higher minimum wage, a sustainable minimum wage, is a big concern for us and we’ve been asking for it for a long time,” said Mary Shortall, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour.
Shortall said about 50,000 workers in Newfoundland and Labrador earned $15 an hour or less.
But a higher minimum wage is just one change that would benefit low-income workers in the province, she said, citing recent calls for statutory paid sick leave for workers as another example.
“Very low-income workers who are struggling to make ends meet now have to make the choice to feed their families or go to work when they are sick,” she said. “If they go to work sick, we know what’s going on.”
Newfoundland and Labrador requires employers to provide seven days of unpaid sick leave, but does not mandate any paid sick days, despite requiring isolation for anyone who contracts COVID-19.
Hard on gig workers
Chris Andrews, lead singer of Newfoundland folk band Shanneyganock, highlighted the impact of the closures on performers and other gig workers.
“It was a dream killer for many,” he said. “I feel for everyone.”
Performance venues in Newfoundland and Labrador are closed under Alert Level 4, so performers and those working behind the scenes are out of work at this time. Andrews said the cancellations have a ripple effect.
“It affects everyone, from the venues, to all the sound guys, scouts and security.”
Shanneyganock was forced to cancel some shows over the holidays when cases started to climb. Andrews said the band had worked on some virtual performances, but they didn’t have the same impact as the live shows.
“You just have to try to get through it. Hopefully when things come back it will be similar to what we left off,” he said.
Business Challenges
Meanwhile, Newfoundland and Labrador business owners face changing capacity and safety regulations and a tight workforce.
Richard Alexander, executive director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Employers Council, said there are high levels of anxiety, depression and fear among business owners and managers.
“There are a host of challenges that businesses are currently facing,” he said, including balancing employee and customer safety while offsetting lost revenue.
Christiana and Sunday Emmanuel opened Afro Kitchen NL, an African restaurant in St. John’s last February, and although it was difficult at times, they say their food has proven popular.
“People will always eat. Everyone will always eat,” said Sunday.
However, on Sunday, the Omicron wave caused further difficulties. He said they are now short of kitchen workers, which means they have to prepare the food themselves.
“Some fear they have been exposed, others just don’t want to be exposed,” he said. “The demand for food is still there. It’s not going down, but the labor is going down.”
Additional constraints
Alexander said the situation at Afro Kitchen is becoming common in restaurants across the province.
“You see a lot of owners or managers or whatever else doing things in the kitchen, doing things that they wouldn’t normally do, while trying to do everything that they would do in their usual day. . to daily work.”
Sandy Bennett is the owner of EmpowHer Fitness, a fitness studio for women.
Although gyms are allowed to remain open, exercise classes must operate at a maximum capacity of 25%. Bennett said she decided to operate at an even lower physical distancing capability for safety.
“I worry about finances, I worry about the health of my members, I worry about the mental health of my members,” she said.
Bennett said she will break even, but if her business is shut down again after the Omicron wave, she doesn’t know if she can handle it.
“You kind of lose a little piece of yourself every time you shut down, so it’s kind of hard to go back.”
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