With the start of the flu season, health care providers and advocates are telling our elected officials that paid sick days is a matter of public health. Thanks to the hard work of the $15 & Fairness supporters across the province, last Thursday’s release of the public statement for paid sick days with well over 700 signatures was a huge success!

If you are a health worker or know someone in the health sector, it is not too late to join the long list of supporters who’ve signed the statement: please take a moment to add your name or share the call. 

The press conference officially launched November as a month of action in support of paid sick days for all workers. In addition to garnering significant media interest, this event also drew the attention of the Premier’s Cabinet Office representative as well as a member of the Official Opposition.

If you were tuned into CBC’s As It Happens on Thursday evening, you might have caught the post-press conference interview – one of the many media hits including: Toronto Star, CBC’s Metro Morning, Newstalk 1010, Omni TV, Sing Tao and more!

Under current Ontario law no worker has the legal right to a paid sick day. In fact, 1.6 million Ontarians risk losing their jobs all together when they take a sick day even without pay. As the Ministry of Labour continues its review of employment laws, we have a unique opportunity to demand legislated paid sick days for allworkers. To achieve this objective we’ll be organizing actions throughout the month, but we need your help.