Modern Landfill Inc.: Certified Living Wage Employer
The Niagara Poverty Reduction Network is pleased to announce that Modern Landfill Inc. has become a certified living wage employer at the Champion level.
Steve Washuta started his original business, Modern Disposal Services, Inc. in 1964 with a single truck, and the enterprise has grown into a privately held, multi-divisional company with operations in Canada, as well as the United States. Modern Landfill was incorporated in 1972 in St. Catharines, Ontario.
Modern has its Canadian operations now headquartered in Niagara Falls, Ontario. This location provides Modern the capability of serving its commercial, industrial, and residential customers throughout the Niagara Region as well as the Greater Toronto Area, Hamilton-Wentworth Region, and the Golden Horseshoe. Modern Landfill currently employs over 85 women and men in Ontario. They join over 600 women and men across all aspects of its operations in the United States, providing all the communities they serve with employment and opportunities for career growth.
“At Modern, we invest in and care for our people. We know that paying a living wage gives us better morale, improved attendance, improved productivity, lower turnover, and better customer relations. As a certified Living Wage Employer, we can recruit and retain the best, therefore delivering exceptional service to our customers,” says Kirsti Hunt, Vice President of Human Resources.
“Modern Landfill Inc. has become Niagara’s 26th certified living wage employer and with this latest certification, we have reached a significant living wage milestone,” says Glen Walker, Chair of the Niagara Poverty Reduction Network. “There are now over 1000 full time, part time, and contract employees working for certified living wage employers across Niagara region and we are pleased to see this number continually grow.”
A living wage reflects what earners need to be paid based on the actual costs of living and being included in the community. A living wage is not the same as the legislated minimum wage. It is a voluntary commitment that employers can make to compensate directly-employed and contract-employed full-time and part-time workers. The 2018 living wage for Niagara region has been calculated to be $17.99/hour. If an employer’s total compensation package includes benefits such as dental and prescription drugs, the living wage can be lowered by about $1.50/hour. Learn more about Niagara’s living wage at www.wipeoutpoverty.ca
Niagara-area employers interested in becoming living wage certified can contact the Ontario Living Wage Network for more information at www.ontariolivingwage.ca
