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‘Reckless employers are the ones who should be facing prison time,’ says worker advocate

TORONTO, June 11, 2020 -- “Criminalizing and penalizing workers who followed public health advice and stayed home by collecting CERB is not only cruel, but dangerous,” said Deena Ladd, Executive Director of the Workers’ Action Centre. “From farms to long-term care homes and factories, hundreds of people continue to be exposed to COVID 19 every day due to unsafe working conditions. Reckless employers are the ones who should be facing prison time.”

On June 10, the federal government tabled bill C-17, which if passed may impose fines and jail time up to 6 months for workers who may have received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) despite being ineligible. The legislation also seeks to restrict access to the $2,000-per-month income support for people who don’t return to work “when it is reasonable to do so or decline a reasonable job offer.” 

"Opposition parties have rightly pressed pause on a bill that fails to address the most critical issues facing our communities," said Pam Frache, Coordinator of the Fight for $15 & Fairness Campaign. "The real problem right now is not an oversubscribed program or mistaken access to CERB, but rather, the fact there has been no comprehensive plan to ensure workers return to safe workplaces. Workers want to return to work. But no one should have to risk their lives to do so."

Recent news coverage revealed that only 23 out of the 5,700 complaints about unsafe working conditions related to COVID-19 filed in Ontario and Quebec were upheld by the respective Labour Ministries. The two provinces together account for more than 87 per cent of the country’s 97,312 COVID-19 cases.

As more workplaces open, Fight for $15 & Fairness Campaign and the Workers' Action Centre are calling on all levels of government to take immediate action to protect workers by creating rapid response processes for workplace outbreaks, legislating 10-days of employer paid sick days, ensuring access to PPE as needed, funding safe public transit to and from work, providing safe and accessible childcare as well as extending CERB for 16 more weeks for workers who cannot yet return to work.

“The blatant disregard for workplace safety has been the biggest gap in Canada’s pandemic response and C-17 will only make matters worse by placing the risk and burden of return to work on employees who have the least power. Mark my words: cutting people off from CERB to force them back into dangerous situations will have deadly consequences,” said Frache. 

“On our confidential hotline we hear from workers every day who are having to work with no protective equipment or proper social distancing,” said Ladd. “Giving employers the power to take income supports away from people who are desperately trying to survive this crisis is frankly shameful. We need real political leadership to enforce workplace safety, not scare people with fines and prosecution."

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For more information or to arrange interviews:
Nil Sendil
Communications Coordinator, Fight for $15 & Fairness
[email protected] l 647-710-5795

COVID-19 is spreading like wildfire among migrant farm workers with temporary immigration status, who are housed by their employers in unsanitary, overcrowded conditions and work without access to any paid sick days or protective equipment.

Over two hundred and eighty have now tested positive, several are hospitalized, and one migrant worker from Mexico -- 31 year old Bonifacio Eugenio Romero -- has died. 

Call your MPP now! (click to learn more)

Health experts have been clear about the source of the infections: "any 'suspicion that it might have been brought from elsewhere is absolutely not true in this situation,' said Dr. Mustafa Hirji, acting medical officer of health for the Niagara region. 'We believe this is infection that was acquired through people's interaction within the community. … Living in close quarters and difficulty maintaining physical distancing at work may have been factors." 

These workers – most of whom come from Jamaica and Mexico – are not only paid poorly for highly-skilled and difficult work, but are also held down by temporary work permits tied to their employer: where speaking up against unsafe working conditions means getting deported. 

Migrant workers are essential workers, not expendable bodies. It is their labour that fuels the very food chain upon which we all depend, from fields and factories to grocery stores. Yet from one end of the country to the other, whether it’s meat-processing plants in Alberta or farms in Ontario, there has been a complete failure to provide safe work and decent living conditions. 

But we can change all this - and protect each other - if we raise our voices together. The Migrant Workers Alliance for Change is calling for three simple demands from Ontario to contain and mitigate the crisis:
    - Suspend work at COVID-19 farms.
    - Ensure income for all.
    - Ensure proper health & safety.

Will you speak up to protect everyone’s health? We need immediate action to contain the outbreak and prevent more people from getting infected, or worse. 

Call your Member of Provincial Parliament NOW!
Click to see tips and find their number.

The fact we are having to sound the alarm to ensure some basic level of dignity for migrant farm workers, speaks to the depth of racism that forms the very foundation of Canada’s unfair immigration programs and labour market. 

For too long, systemic racism has forced workers of colour into the most dangerous jobs with low pay, inadequate hours, and few benefits. This is a pandemic that has been hurting Black, Indigenous and workers of color with deadly consequences, way before COVID-19.  Black and Brown bodies are NOT less deserving and more expendable than white bodies. Justice demands equal treatment for all. That’s why the Fight for $15 and Fairness is proud to join with the Migrant Rights Network to demand full citizenship status for all migrant workers. Join the day of action on June 14, click here to register and learn more.

None of us can be free until all of us are. Join us. 

TORONTO, June 3, 2020 – “For workers who got temporarily laid off or had their hours cut due to COVID-19, this crisis has just turned from bad to worse,” said Pam Frache, Coordinator of the Fight for $15 & Fairness Campaign. “The consequences of Premier Doug Ford’s decision will be devastating for many, while deadly for others.”

On May 29, 2020, the Ontario government amended the Employment Standards Act (ESA) to suspend termination and severance pay for non-unionized workers who’ve been temporarily laid-off because of COVID-19. The new Infectious Disease Emergency Leave (IDEL) regulation will be retroactive to March 1, 2020 and stay in effect until 6 weeks after the province’s declared state of emergency ends.

“Workers – especially in low-wage jobs that dominate sectors providing essential services like care work, food supply and cleaning – have been paying for this pandemic since day 1,” said Frache. “Taking away their hard earned entitlements worth several weeks of wages is a slap in the face for many who are just one rent cheque away from losing their housing.”

As part of IDEL regulation, workers who had their hours cut or eliminated due to COVID-19 will now also be prevented from filing a Ministry of Labour claim for constructive dismissal. Previously, a reduction in hours of work or earnings by 20 per cent would likely deem workers constructively dismissed, making them eligible for termination and severance pay as well as CERB. Now without constructive dismissal, more workers will be barred from accessing the $2,000 monthly Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), which is not available to those who have quit their job, even when their hours of work and wages are cut significantly. This also gives employers more power to reduce wages and working conditions.

“The loss of constructive dismissal protection during COVID-19 will mean even fewer people will be able to risk speaking up against unsafe working conditions, while reprisals in the form of reduced earnings become more swift” said Jared Ong, a community organizer with the Workers’ Action Centre. “At a time when more workplaces are reporting outbreaks, this is extremely dangerous.”

"Minister of Labour Monte McNaughton may say this is merely temporary and that workers will be able to access their entitlements 6 weeks after the pandemic," said Mary Gellatly with Parkdale Community Legal Services. “But the truth is, there is nothing to stop employers from hollowing out their companies and removing assets, so when they are finally required to pay termination and severance, there will be nothing left for workers.”

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For more information or to arrange interviews:
Nil Sendil
Communications Coordinator, Fight for $15 & Fairness
[email protected] l 647-710-5795

Organizing works! Just days after our #PaidSickLeaveSavesLives Day of Action, and under pressure from the federal NDP, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged on Monday to push for 10 days of paid sick leave for every worker in Canada.

With the support of health providers, faith leaders, labour unions, anti-poverty advocates and small business owners, we’ve been pushing for at least 7 paid sick days for ALL - plus an additional 14 days during public health outbreaks. Winning a commitment for 10 days of paid leave is a huge step forward. But, we can’t celebrate yet.

Take 2 minutes and make your call now (click here for tips)!
If you can, post a video or photo of yourself in action with the hashtag #PaidSickLeaveSavesLives, and challenge others to do the same.

Despite his fine words, the Prime Minister has only promised to “explore” options with the provinces, and so far has made no effort to lead by example to legislate the 10 paid days for the nearly 1 million workers covered by the Canada Labour Code*. 

It’s up to all of us to make sure the federal government turns their words into action. Call your local Member of Parliament today (click here to find their number and a suggested script). Tell them you support 10 permanent employer paid sick days to be legislated immediately, with no public subsidies for the likes of Loblaws, Chartwell or Amazon.

Mandate paid sick days now, without delay
With medical experts warning of a second wave of COVID-19 infections -- on top of day-to-day workplace outbreaks -- the lack of legislated paid sick days puts more people at risk of contagion… or worse. Workers who are ill must be able to stay home that same day without financial penalty, instead of having to lose income for 14 days to gain access to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. Millions of people cannot afford to take a single unpaid day off when they are unwell. This is a disgrace - and a public health hazard for all of us.

During COVID-19 and permanently
From the heartbreaking conditions in for-profit long-term care homes, to the poverty wages facing many frontline workers, the pandemic did not create these injustices, but exposed them for what they are. Paid sick days are a necessity, not a luxury -- and if we are serious about limiting community transmission of contagious illnesses like the seasonal flu, we need this protection permanently. In Ontario, there are too many early childhood educators, paramedics, food handlers, nurses, security guards, cleaners and so many more without *any* paid sick days. This is unacceptable.

NO public subsidies for wealthy corporations
Meanwhile, Loblaws, Walmart, Amazon - all companies raking in billions more in revenue during the COVID-19 outbreak - underpay their workers and provide no paid sick days. That’s exactly how they keep their profit high. These companies can certainly afford to provide paid sick days for every employee. Our tax dollars must not be used to subsidize the Loblaws of the world to provide paid sick days, or the likes of for-profit nursing home Chartwell that has been rightly slapped with a class-action lawsuit. Let’s not give them a single dime.

Thousands of supporters like yourself sent in petitions, called our elected representatives and spoke up for this basic protection! For the Prime Minister to be giving voice to what thousands of us have been saying all along is a huge step forward and a vindication of our demands. However, we must force him to deliver on his promise. 

As it stands, very few workers in Canada** have a government-guaranteed right to paid sick days. But together, we can change that! Make your call now (visit: 15andFairness.org/CallYourMP for more info). There’s no time to lose to legislate life-saving paid sick days for ALL!

*  Canada Labour Code dictates the rights of federally regulated workers in sectors that cross provincial boundaries, like transportation, communication and banking.
** Workers in Ontario have 0 legislated paid sick days, while workers in PEI are entitled to 1 paid sick day a year after working for the same employer for 5 years. Workers in Quebec get access to 2 paid sick days after working for the same employer for 3 months.

Huge thanks to everyone who helped make yesterday's Day of Action for Paid Sick Days, which we cohosted with the Ontario Federation of Labour and CUPE Ontario, a success! From Sudbury to Niagara in Ontario, and from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, we said it loud and clear: #PaidSickLeaveSavesLives.

Let's build on this momentum!
Sign up to join our online organizing meeting on Tuesday, May 26 at 7 PM

From sunup to sundown, photos and videos of creative actions to push for this crucial protection came pouring in. Here are just some of the highlights:

• Wide-spread support for paid sick days:
  From teachers to nurses, small business owners to students, we raised our voices yesterday. Friends, families and neighbours hit the sidewalks with chalk, chanted our demands and postered their local grocery stores. Some of us took our demands directly to local Members of Provincial Parliament and Retail Action Network in BC even got dressed up in superhero costumes! See photos of these creative actions, here.
  
  
• Day of Action makes headlines:
  Listen to this stellar radio interview where Lisa Descary explains why she is participating in the Day of Action.
  
  
• #PaidSickLeaveSavesLives trends:
  Thanks to so many people taking to social media to show their support for 7 paid sick days for ALL (on a permanent basis) plus additional 14 days during outbreaks, we trended! Check out some of the great photos that were shared (click here), including this selfie compilation by Climate Justice Peel. 
  
  
• Elected officials join the action:
  Local representatives across party lines echoed our demand for legislated paid sick days. St Catharines City Councillor Karrie Porter, NDP MPPs Jill Andrews, Jessica Bell, Bhutila Karpoche and Marit Stiles as well as Green Party of Ontario spoke out.

Throughout Canada, a conversation about the urgent need for paid sick days is brewing. It is really up to all of us, to make sure this sentiment gets turned into real action so every worker has the financial ability to stay home when sick. Join this Tuesday's online organizing meeting (7:00 PM on May 26) to discuss different strategies we could use to increase the pressure to win paid sick days for ALL (sign up here)! We'd love to hear from you about how the Day of Action went for you, and what other tactics you'd like to try in the future. You can join the online meeting by phone or the video app Zoom (log-in details will be emailed to you once you register, click here).

If you have any questions about the right to refuse unsafe work or accessing income supports during the pandemic, tune into our online workshop on Thursday, May 28 (register here) taking place also at 7:00 PM. We continue to host these free webinars together with the Workers' Action Centre, to help more people learn their rights.

Thank you for your ongoing support! Before Ford government took them away, we had made Ontario the first province in Canada to legislate paid sick days for ALL workers. By organizing collectively, we can win this crucial protection back. Let's keep up the pressure!

Ontario workers do not have the legislated right to paid sick days since the Ford government scrapped this basic protection. Nurses, cleaners, paramedics, garbage workers, grocery store workers, and so many more CANNOT AFFORD TO STAY HOME without pay, even when they have symptoms. 

On May 21, demand 21 paid sick days with us: 7 paid sick days on a permanent basis and additional 14 days during public health outbreaks.

HERE'S HOW:

• Share your paid sick day story.
  Use the hashtag #PaidSickLeaveSavesLives to post on social media why you support this crucial right for all. We'll be following the conversation on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram throughout the day to amplify your voice.
  

Click to share on Facebook - on Twitter 

• Sidewalk chalk your support.
  Outside your house, local grocery store, or the office of your Member of Provincial Parliament, chalk the sidewalks with your creative messages in support of paid sick days. Snap a photo and post online using the hashtag #PaidSickLeaveSavesLives.
  
  
• Download & display our poster (or make your own)!
  Choose from one of the many colourful letter-sized posters that celebrate frontline workers by demanding paid sick days for all: www.15andfairness.org/resources Post them up in your neighbourhood (or make your own!) and snap a selfie to tell everyone about the need for this urgent protection.
  
  
• Cheer for paid sick days for ALL!
  Bring your family members, friends, neighbours into the Day of Action by cheering for paid sick days from your window, porch, balcony, yard... Don't forget to film yourself in action and share it online with the hashtag #PaidSickLeaveSavesLives.

On May 21st, wherever you are, whenever you can - speak out for paid sick days. We'll be sharing the actions of $15 & Fairness supporters like yourself throughout the day on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, so follow and post with the hashtag #PaidSickLeaveSavesLives to be a part of this important conversation. Not on social media? Reply to this email with your photo or video so we can post it for you.

Let's make sure politicians hear our voices, on the streets and online, to bring back this crucial protection without anymore delay. If you haven't yet, please take a moment now to sign the petition which gets electronically sent to your local provincial leader and Prime Minister Trudeau.

Together we can protect our communities!
Fight for $15 & Fairness Team

Politicians are looking the other way while more workers die from COVID-19 every week. We must come together to pressure them to put our health ahead of business profits.

Register now to join the May 21 Day of Action to pressure Premier Ford to bring back Paid Sick Days (click here)

While many businesses in Ontario (including retail stores with street-front entrances and all construction sites) will be allowed to open their doors as of Tuesday, Premier Ford offered no real assurances for keeping workers safe -- other than telling us to stay home if we’re sick.

The reality is, far too many workers cannot afford to follow this basic advice. Let’s not forget that it was the Ford government that cancelled the very legislation that had given every Ontario worker 2 paid sick days per year. The pandemic has proven how deadly it can be when workers living paycheck to paycheck cannot take time off when ill. We need paid sick days for ALL so everyone can stay home today if they have symptoms, instead of having to forego income for 14 days to be eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

Paid sick leave saves lives! We need at least 7 paid sick days on a permanent basis and an additional 14 during public health outbreaks to protect our communities -- especially while more people are getting called back to their workplaces.

• Register to join the May 21 Day of Action for 21 paid sick days for ALL, sign up here. On Thursday May 21, we will be speaking out online and offline to demand this essential protection for all workers, visit our website to learn how you can participate.
  
  
• Invite friends and co-workers to join us on May 21: Share the event on Facebook (click here) to invite others to join you. Or print May 21 posters to hang in your local grocery store or leaflets to slip in your neighbours' mailboxes (download them here).
  
  
• Show your support for paid sick days: Choose from several posters celebrating our superhero frontline workers to show your support for paid sick days for ALL -- print and post them everywhere you can! www.15andfairness.org/resources

Join our next online organizing meeting on Tuesday, May 26 (sign up here) to be a part of the solution. And if you have any questions about the right to refuse unsafe work or accessing income supports during the pandemic, tune into our online workshop on Thursday, May 28 (register here).

Thanks for your ongoing support! If you are in a position to do so, please consider making a donation (click here) to help us organize more online meetings, phonebanks and workshops to keep fighting for these important rights.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a bold pronouncement:

"... if you are risking your health to keep this country moving and you're still making minimum wage, you deserve a raise." 

We couldn't agree more.

But if the Prime Minister truly believes this, he should lead by example to permanently raise the federal minimum wage and implement an adequate number of paid sick days for all federally-regulated workers. 

Unfortunately, none of the provinces have agreed to raise the minimum wage. Right now, hundreds of thousands of minimum wage workers are earning sub-poverty wages while risking their health and safety to provide the goods and services the rest of us depend on.

We welcome the long-overdue wage increases for Ontario's health, long-term care sectors, and social services, AND we believe everyone deserves decent wages - now and forever. 

The COVID-19 crisis has exposed the intolerable wages and working conditions of the workers we need most: cleaners, educators, delivery workers, farm workers, child care workers, security guards, garbage collectors, drivers, health providers, grocery store workers, and more. We can't wait until after the crisis to demand better for the workers who need protection now. 

Organize NOW for a decent work future

We are excited to announce a special organizing meeting co-sponsored by the Ontario Federation of Labour and the Fight for $15 and Fairness next Tuesday. Let's continue to bring union and non-union workers together! 

Organize now for a decent work future
Tuesday, May 12, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.
Click here to register here to emailed zoom link
Click here to share the event on Facebook

Paid sick days for all!

If New York State can do it - so can we! 

Last month, the state of New York adopted legislation providing up to 8 paid sick days annually - and permanently - for employees across the state. These days are ON TOP of the 14 days of paid sick days already implemented to address the COVID-19 crisis.

Studies in the United States shows paid sick/emergency leave policies dramatically reduce the spread of contagious illnesses and save millions in health care costs and productivity losses.

Every province and the federal government should make 7 or more paid sick days a matter of law. And in times of outbreaks, all workers - union and non-union alike - should get an additional 14 paid days. Refusing to act now puts every one of us at risk and increases health care costs. 

May 21 - Day of Action for 21 Paid Emergency Leave Days! 

We need at least 7 paid days permanently and an additional 14 during a pandemic. That means workers need 21 paid days right now!

Our April 21 Day of Action to demand paid emergency leave for all was a big success. (Click here to to see a great video put together by Chelsea, an Ottawa-based $15 and Fairness fighter.) 

At our most recent $15 & Fairness online organizing meeting in April, we agreed to build on this momentum by taking action again on May 21 to demand an adequate number of paid sick leave days be enshrined in law. It should be a basic protection for all of us. 

Day of Action for 21 Paid Emergency Leave Days 
Thursday, May 21st, All day
Click here to RSVP
Click here to share on Facebook

For even more inspiration, artist and $15 and Fairness activist Michael DeForge designed some beautiful posters - in colour and in black and white. Visit our resources page here to download them. 

We can use these designs to promote our May 21 actions:

• Make your own poster promoting a group or neighbourhood action,
• Print them as is and post them in your neighbourhood or around your transit routes, or
• Use them for your profile pic, for selfies, and more. 

Special Webinar: Workplace rights during COVID-19

We continue to work with the Workers' Action Centre to host free, online info sessions about workplace rights, access to income supports, and other workplace issues. But we are excited to announce Progress Toronto is co-sponsoring our next session!

Workplace Rights during COVID-19
Thursday, May 14 at 7:00 pm 
Click here to register to be emailed login info
Click here to share the event on Facebook

Got an issue? Call the Workers' Action Centre 

Remember, you can call the Workers' Action Centre any time for free, confidential advice on a workplace issue, or for questions navigating government programs. 

Support is available regardless of immigration status and in any language. Please mention which language you need when you leave a message.

• Calls from within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA): 416-531-0778
• Calls from outside the GTA are Toll-free: 1-855-531-0778

-- the Fight for $15 & Fairness Team

Are you ready to make some noise on Tuesday evening, April 21, to win 21 paid sick days for ALL workers? Sign up now to add your support (click here)!

The biggest thanks we can give frontline workers is to make sure they have protections and decent pay. Every day, between 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm communities clap and bang pots to thank essential workers. Tomorrow (Tuesday) we need your help to speak out for 21 paid emergency days: at least 7 paid emergency leave days and an additional 14 days whenever there is an outbreak. Are you in? Sign up here!

HOW TO GET IN ON THE ACTION:

From your window, front porch, balcony or social media account, join us between 7 and 8 PM on Tuesday to demand essential protections for all workers. Here are some tips:

- Print our sign or make your own! Click here to download the "All workers need PAID sick leave" sign, then post it in your window or on your door!
- Chant to have your voice heard. Here's a little inspiration: "Time to rest, time to heal, we all deserve a better deal!" "7, 14, 21 - Paid sick days let's get 'em done!" "What do we want? Paid sick days! When do we want them? NOW!" 
- Call the Premier at 416-325-1941 to demand Doug Ford take action now so every worker has the ability to stay home when they are sick. If you need TTY (TeleTypewriting), dial: 1-800-387-5559.
- Chalk your neighbourhood. Get some chalk and hit the sidewalks, courtyards, or cement walls around your apartment or neighbourhood. 

POST ONLINE: SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!

- Take a selfie or video, and post online! Use the hashtags #PaidSickLeaveSavesLives #COVID19Canada #15andFairness so we can all help share them! We'll be monitoring Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to amplify your photos / videos. Not on any social media? Email us your photos, we'll post them for you!
- Ask your friends and neighbours to join our campaign! They can sign up and sign the petition at www.15andFairness.org
- Spread the word! Share the graphic below to invite your network to join you in taking action between 7:00 and 8:00 pm on Tuesday, April 21 (they can sign up here.)

Share on Facebook - Share on Twitter - Share on Instagram

Thank you for your support! Let's make sure that security guards, grocery store workers, child care workers, taxi and Uber drivers, delivery workers, cleaners, and personal support workers are NOT alone!

Together, we can win these essential protections for ALL. 

Both Premier Ford and Prime Minister Trudeau love calling frontline workers superheroes. But when it comes to protecting them by providing paid sick days, we get radio silence.

Too many workers who keep us clean, fed and healthy, have NO paid sick days or health benefits. Nurses, cleaners, paramedics, garbage and grocery store workers put their lives on the line every day, with no financial ability to stay home if they have symptoms.

Make some noise for frontline workers:
Take action on April 21 to demand paid sick days for ALL! (Sign up here)

We're stepping up our demands: time for 21 days of paid emergency leave! We've long called for at least 7 paid sick days as a basic, permanent right for all workers (federal and provincial). But it's crystal clear now that during outbreaks -- which are becoming increasingly common -- workers need an additional 14 paid days to be able to follow the advice of health professionals.

Sign up to take action (click here) -- Spread the word on Facebook (click here)

On April 21, help us amplify the demand for 21 paid emergency leave days as an essential part of the government's response to the COVID-19 crisis. Here's how:

1. Help spread the word that on April 21, we are calling for 21 paid emergency leave days for everyone. Click here to sign up or click here to spread the word on Facebook.
2. Sign and share this petition at 15andFairness.org to win paid emergency leave and decent work for everyone.
3. Make some noise in the evening of April 21 along with your neighbours! Download this window sign (click here) or make your own! Snap a selfie or video to capture your support - then share them on social media using the hashtags #PaidSickLeaveSavesLives #COVID19Canada #15andFairness

Every evening across Canada, communities clap, drum, sing, and bang pots and pans to show their appreciation for frontline staff, from health workers to garbage collectors, and from grocery store employees to delivery workers. These are the people making it possible for others to stay home.

Isn't it time for them - for all of us - to count on an adequate number of paid emergency leave days each and every year? 

Ask your Qs: Weekly Workers' Rights Webinars 

Just a reminder that we have partnered with the Workers' Action Centre to provide weekly workers' rights webinars every Thursday evening at 7:00 pm (you can join online or dial-in).

The next webinar will take place on April 23 at 7:00 pm, click here to register now. You can also share the event on Facebook here to invite friends, family, and co-workers, or forward this email to them.

We're organizing #online 

Missed our first $15 and Fairness online organizing meeting last week? Don't worry! We're meeting every two weeks on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm. And the great news is that you can join online or by phone.

Register for the next meeting on Tuesday, April 28: (Click here to sign up right now). You can also spread the word on Facebook. 

For your calendar: Following $15 and Fairness organizing meetings are scheduled at 7:00 pm for May 12 and May 26.

In response to today's news about 1 million job losses across Canada during March, we are more determined than ever to grow our grassroots power to protect our communities during these devastating times.

Read on to learn how you can take action against the health and economic consequences of COVID-19.

Join our $15 & Fairness #online organizing meeting!

We're taking our organizing meetings online, join us every other Tuesday, starting April 14, at 7:00 PM to share what we've learned so far, and strategize about the road ahead. (Click here to register now). 

In Ontario and across Canada the Fight for $15 and Fairness has been central in winning -- and improving -- the emergency income supports we all need to survive. But we know there is much more to be done!

Register by clicking here to receive the webinar log-in details (you can join online or dial in). Please add the upcoming meeting dates to your calendar: April 28, May 12 and May 26 and invite friends on Facebook (click here).

Join us on Tuesday, April 14 - 7 PM: Sign up now!

Our virtual organizing meeting will be an excellent opportunity to connect with other $15 & Fairness supporters from across the province, and re-establish the regular meeting routine that was happening locally. 

Weekly workshops: Workplace rights during COVID-19

Do you have questions about the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)? Are you feeling scared to go to work?

Because so many workers are desperately needing accessible, accurate information about our rights during this crisis, we've committed to holding online Know Your Rights workshops every week together with the Workers' Action Centre. Our workshops focus on workers' rights in Ontario and take place on Thursdays at 7:00 pm -- sign up for tonight (register here for April 9) or reserve your spot for next week (register here for April 16) to have your questions answered!

After signing up on our website, you will immediately receive the log-in details for the workshop with options to join online or dial in! Help us spread the word by inviting your co-workers and friends: click here to share on Facebook or forward this email.

If you miss the webinar, but have a problem at work or questions about accessing CERB, call the Workers' Action Centre's confidential help line for advice. Here are the numbers:

• Toll free outside the Greater Toronto Area 1-855-531-0778
• Greater Toronto Area: (416) 531-0778.

Keep fighting for $500 in weekly support for everyone! 

We really need to keep calling federal politicians to ensure everyone is treated fairly. Right now, the new emergency benefit requires workers to be without income for 14 consecutive days. Workers who may still be required to work a few hours per week but who have lost most of their income, cannot qualify for CERB. And we still need to ensure workers without a valid Social Insurance Number are also able to access these crucial income supports. Immigration status should not be a barrier!

Help demand fairness for ALL. Please call cabinet now (click here)

Paid emergency leave: If not now, when?

Click here to listen to the eye-opening CBC interview with Deena Ladd of the Workers' Action Centre, where she explains exactly how weaknesses in labour protections continue to put workers in danger. 

Indeed, it is absolutely shocking to learn just how many workers who are keeping us clean, fed, and cared for have NO paid sick days, even though they are putting themselves in harm's way to protect us all.

Whether it's cleaners ensuring the spaces we use are clean and sanitized, long-term care workers tending to seniors, transportation workers keeping our supply chains moving, grocery store workers keeping shelves stocked, or nurses on the frontlines delivering health care, this situation cannot continue. Everyone needs at least 7 days of paid sick leave on a permanent basis and an additional 14 days during outbreaks. Click here to send an email right now to demand essential protections for our essential workers.

To read the full list of permanent and emergency measures necessary to protect workers click here for English and click here for French.

-- the Fight for $15 & Fairness Team

Know your rights: Webinar back by popular demand!

Last week we had our first COVID-19 Know Your Rights at Work online workshop together with the Workers' Action Centre and it was a real success! In fact, in response to the overwhelming demand we'll be running it again. Register now (click here), to join us on Thursday, April 2 at 7:00 pm.

After signing up on our website, you will immediately receive the log-in details for Thursday's webinar. If you have friends and coworkers who may be interested, please invite them on Facebook or share this page with them.

Help everyone get at least $500 in weekly support! 

Collective action works: the fact we even have an emergency fund is a testament to your effort!

As we learned last week, the federal government is simplifying the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to make it available to more people -- in response to public pressure. 

This is progress, but we can't stop mobilizing now. Call cabinet now (click here) to demand these supports for ALL!

There are still two big problems that must be addressed: 

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Will you talk to 2 more people? 

If you have called already, would you help us get 2 more people to make the call? Share this link: 15andfairness.org/covid19_callcabinet

By reaching out personally to 2 other friends, family members or co-workers and asking them to make a phone call, you could expand our reach dramatically. And since you have already made the call, you'll be in a good position to explain how to do it and to walk them through process.

In addition, if you haven't done so already, take a moment to call your member of parliament to deliver the same message. Click here to find your MP. 

We have every reason to believe we can win an EI top up and supports for other vulnerable workers who are currently excluded from the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

But it won't happen unless many more of us speak up.

Call cabinet now (click here)! This phoning tool we've set up with the Migrant Rights Network will directly connect you to the voicemail of a Federal Minister so you can easily leave a message.

The Fight for $15 and Fairness continues to call for 21 paid emergency leave days for all workers (7 paid days permanently and an additional 14 paid days during pandemics) and for a dramatic improvement in access to -- and the amount of support provided by -- Employment Insurance. The full list of permanent and emergency measures necessary to protect workers can be accessed here in English and accessed here in French.

-- the Fight for $15 & Fairness Team

Thanks to many people like yourself speaking out, the federal government announced the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) on Wednesday. At $2,000 for a month ($500 per week), this income support for COVID-19 is better than what was previously announced and will have a much simpler application process. 

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While this is a positive step, critical improvements are still needed to make sure everyone can access this minimum support. Too many of us who are already receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits get much less than $500 per week and it's not at all clear whether those of us who've been forced to work cash jobs will have any access to these supports. 

Fortunately, it's not too late for our elected representatives to extend these protections to all: Click here now to phone them.

The federal ministers who make up the Cabinet are currently deciding who will be eligible for these minimum income supports. If we act immediately, we can influence the program design. Please take a moment right now to speak to a member of the cabinet, to make sure everyone who needs it receives at least $500 in weekly benefits ($2,000 per month).

Together with our friends at the Migrant Rights Network, we've created a tool that will allow you to phone a member of the Cabinet with just one-click. Simply type in your phone number, and the system will dial and connect you directly to the voicemail of a Federal Minister. Visit our website now to take action: www.15andfairness.org/covid19_callcabinet As you complete the action, you will be given some example speaking points to support you.

During this pandemic we know that we can’t protect anyone without protecting everyone. Make your call now! Join us in urging the Cabinet to ensure this income support is available to ALL regardless of immigration or past employment status.

To read our full response to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit announced on Wednesday, click here. 

The Fight for $15 and Fairness continues to call for 21 paid emergency leave days for all workers (7 paid days permanently and an additional 14 paid days during pandemics) and for a dramatic improvement in access to -- and the amount of support provided by -- Employment Insurance. The full list of permanent and emergency measures necessary to protect workers can be accessed here in English and accessed here in French.

-- the Fight for $15 & Fairness Team

Information urgente: 26 mars 2020

Prestations préconisées par les réponses canadiennes d’urgence : « Elles sont prometteuses, mais des améliorations s’imposent, afin que l’aide aille véritablement où l’on en a besoin », selon des organismes de défenses des travailleurs et travailleuses.

(Toronto, 26 mars 2020 )—« la prestation de $2000/mois- $500/semaine-pour tous et toutes en soutien financier d’urgence, est plus que nécessaire et grandement appréciée », affirme Pam Fache, coordonnatrice du Fight for $15 and Fairness, réagissant aux prestations préconisées par les réponses canadiennes d’urgence.

Conformément aux dernières annonces du Ministre des finances, les nouvelles prestations d’urgence prorogent les deux dispositions précédentes (Prestations d’urgence de santé et prestations d’urgence de soutiens financiers). Ces nouvelles prestations seront immédiatement accessibles à toutes personnes, directement ou indirectement affectées par la COVID-19, même celles qui ne seraient pas éligibles à l’assurance-emploi en temps ordinaire.

Pour Pam Fache, « nous sommes très soulagé-e-s de constater que le gouvernement va dans le sens de simplifier les choses aux travailleurs et travailleuses qui en ont le plus besoin. Toutefois, nous aimerions rappeler aux gouvernants que les personnes, qui avaient déjà soumis une demande de prestation d’assurance-emploi, précédemment, ne recevront que 55% de leur revenu initial-drastiquement moins que les $500/semaine. Ceci ne permettrait jamais aux travailleurs et travailleuses à salaire minimum ou à faibles revenus, de pouvoir faire face à leurs dépenses. C’est impératif donc que les personnes qui perçoivent déjà l’assurance-emploi, ou celles qui ont déjà fait leurs demandes, puissent avoir un ajustement qui les amènerait au niveau minimal des $500/semaine ».

Pour Deena Ladd, directrice exécutive du Workers’Action Centre, « c’est primordial que tous les travailleurs et toutes les travailleuses dans le besoin et dont le nombre ne cesse de grandir, bénéficient, tous et toutes, des nouvelles prestations d’urgence canadiennes. Nous sommes très inquiets que certaines conditions de ces prestations n’excluent justement les personnes qui en ont le plus besoin. Des doléances que reçoit le Workers’Action Centre, il y en a, venant de personnes n’ayant, ni comptes bancaires, ni numéro d’assurance sociale. Nous venons en aide à des nouveaux arrivants, ainsi que des personnes n’ayant aucun historique fiscal. Nous assistons également des personnes n’ayant commis aucun crime mais se retrouvant, de force, dans le secteur informel ».

Toujours selon Madame Ladd, « nous devons nous assurer de ce que tous les travailleurs et toutes les travailleuses, peu importe leur niveau de revenus ou peu importe leurs statuts au Canada, reçoivent toutes les aides dont ils et elles ont besoin. Ne l’oublions pas : nous devons protéger ces personnes qui assurent la propreté et la sécurité des lieux que nous-mêmes fréquentons. Nous devons protéger ces personnes qui prennent soin de nos aînés et de nos enfants. Nombreuses sont les personnes qui nous assurent la bonne tenue des services essentiels, mais qui n’ont aucune protection sociale, même pas le minimum de protections sociales, au regard des lois ».

Madame Ladd se dit « confiante que nous finirons par développer un système qui étendra sa protection à tous les travailleurs et à toutes les travailleuses qui en ont besoin. Nous devons tout faire pour ne pas regarder de haut, ces personnes qui sont des plus vulnérables, et qui courent les pires risques à tomber malades. C’est la raison pour laquelle nous invitons le gouvernement à se rapprocher des organismes, comme le nôtre, qui sont aux premières loges de soutiens à ces travailleurs et travailleuses. Il nous faut trouver une formule qui fonctionnerait pour tout le monde ».

Renchérissant, Madame Fache dit que, « peu importe que nous ayons des statuts légaux, peu importe que nous soyons éligibles ou recevions l’assurance-emploi, ou peu importe que nous soyons partie prenante du système macro-économique, nous devrions, tous et toutes, avoir droit à une assistance à un revenu. S’il y a une leçon à tirer de cette pandémie, c’est que, nous protéger, nous-mêmes, passe d’abord et aussi par la protection de tous et de toutes ».

Les procédures pour les Prestations préconisées par les réponses canadiennes d’urgence seront lancées en ce début du mois d’avril et les documents, officiels, promettent que les travailleurs et travailleuses devraient recevoir leurs premières prestations, dans les dix jours suivant la demande. Au fur et à mesure que le programme se précisera, les détails s’y rapportant seront disponibles.

Le Fight for $15 and Fairness continue sa campagne pour un minimum de 21 jours de revenus garantis pour tous les travailleurs et pour toutes les travailleuses, dont 7 jours en permanence et 14 jours supplémentaires en cas de pandémies. Ceci devient particulièrement important, étant donné que Prestations préconisées par les réponses canadiennes d’urgence déterminent que, seules les personnes, restées sans emploi pendant au moins 14 jours, y seront éligibles. Il faudrait également une amélioration drastique à l’assurance-emploi, tant au niveau des conditions d’éligibilités que du montant des prestations. Il s’agit là d’une nécessité de premier ordre, dont, entre autres, la réduction, pour tous les travailleurs et toutes les travailleuses, à 360 heures, du temps de travail nécessaire pour y être éligibles.

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Pour des renseignements supplémentaires, ou pour avoir un rendez-vous :
Contactez Nil sendil
Coordonnateur des communications Fight for $15 & Fairness
[email protected] l 647-710-5795

PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA: 26 de Marzo del 2020

El Beneficio en respuesta a la Emergencia Canadiense: ʺPrometedora, pero se necesitan mejoras urgentes para llevar apoyo donde más se necesita”- dice una defensora del trabajador

 (Toronto,26 de Marzo del 2020) -- ʺ Los $2,000 de cantidad fija por mes-$500 por semana en ingreso de apoyo por emergencia es un paso-urgente necesario en la correcta dirección” dijo Pam Frache, coordinadora de Fight for $15 and Fairness (Lucha por $15 y Justicia)

De acuerdo con la publicación emitida por el Ministerio de Finanzas, el Nuevo Beneficio de Urgencia combinará las dos medidas anunciadas previamente(los beneficios de  Cuidado de Emergencia y Apoyo de Emergencia) y estarán disponibles para aquellos afectado directa o indirectamente por el COVID-19, incluyendo a aquellos que no califican para el Seguro de Empleo.

ʺEstamos esperanzados al ver al gobierno moviéndose para simplificar el proceso para los trabajadores que necesitan ayuda”, dijo Frache. ʺ Sin embargo, queremos recordarles que muchos trabajadores que ya han aplicado al Seguro de Empleo estarán recibiendo solo el 55% de su ingreso previo- considerablemente menos de $500 por semana. Estas cifras no son suficientes para pagar las cuentas para los trabajadores que tenían un salario de empleo bajo o mínimo.  Para aquellos que ya están recibiendo el soporte de ingreso de EI o que ya han aplicado,es absolutamente crucial que sus beneficios semanales de EI no sean menos de $500 por semana”, dijo Frache

 “Es de suma importancia que el Beneficio de Emergencia llegue al número creciente de trabajadores en situaciones realmente precarias”, dijo Deena Ladd, Directora Ejecutiva de Workers’Action Centre (Centro de Acción de los trabajadores). Estamos muy preocupados que los detalles del programa establecido puedan excluir a trabajadores que ahora están en una real crisis. En el Centro, estamos escuchando a  gente que no tiene cuentas bancarias o números de Seguro Social; estamos ayudando a nuevos inmigrantes sin un historial de empleo o registros de impuestos; y trabajamos con gente que ha sido arrastrada dentro de la economía informal y no por su culpa.”

 “ Necesitamos asegurarnos que todos los trabajadores, sin importar el nivel de ingreso y estatus migratorio, obtengan la ayuda que necesitan”, dijo Ladd. “Recuerden que, necesitamos proteger a la gente que sigue manteniendo los edificios limpios y seguros para todos nosotros, repartiendo comida y los que están cuidando de nuetros ancianos y nuestros niños. Muchos trabajadores que están proporcionando servicios esenciales en estos momentos, no tienen una red de seguridad social ni siquiera protecciones mínimas bajo la ley.”

 “Estoy optimista que podemos desarrollar sistemas que le lleven ayuda a los trabajadores que lo necesitan.” dijo Ladd. “ Pero no debemos pasar por alto a aquellos que están en situaciones desesperadas y que son más vulnerables de enfermarse. Es por eso que, estamos insistiendo que el gobierno consulte con organizaciones que están en primera línea brindando apoyo a estos trabajadores. Necesitamos, encontrar soluciones que funcionen para todos.”

Frache está de acuerdo. “Ya sea,si somos indocumentados, si no calificamos para recibir EI, o si somos parte de la economía independiente, todos merecemos un acceso inmediato a los beneficios de ingreso. Si hay una cosa que hemos aprendido de esta pandemia, es que no podemos protegernos a nosotros mismos a menos que protejamos a todos.”

El proceso de aplicación al Beneficio en Respuesta de la Emergencia Canadiense (CERB en inglés) estará disponible a comienzo de Abril y los documentos del gobierno dicen que los trabajadores deberían estar recibiendo su primer pago dentro de 10 días de su aplicación. Mas información de los detalles acerca del programa serán emitidos a medida que las normas se desarrollan.

The Fight for $15 and Fairness continua exigiendo por 21 días de licencia por emergencia pagados para todos los trabajadores- 7días pagados permanentemente y 14 días adicionales pagados durante pandemias. Esto es especialmente fundamental ya que el Beneficio en Respuesta a la Emergencia Canadiense( CERB) parece estar disponible solo para aquellos trabajadores que han estado sin trabajo por 14 días. Se necesitan drásticas mejoras para el acceso y la cantidad del ingreso proporcionado por el EI (Seguro de Empleo) que son todavía necesarias y deben ser prioridad, incluyendo la cantidad de horas de aplicación necesarias a 360 para todos los trabajadores.

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Para más información o para organizar entrevistas contactar a:
Nil Sendil

Coordinadora de Comunicaciones de Fight for $15 & Fairness

[email protected] l 647-710-5795

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Canadian Emergency Response Benefit: “Promising, but urgent improvements are needed to get support where it’s needed most,” say worker advocates

(Toronto, March 26, 2020) -- “The $2,000 per month flat rate - $500 per week - in emergency income support is an urgently-needed step in the right direction,” said Pam Frache, coordinator of the Fight for $15 and Fairness, who was responding to the announced Canadian Emergency Response Benefit. 

According to the news release issued by the Ministry of Finance, the new Emergency Benefit will combine the two previously announced measures (Emergency Care and Emergency Support benefits) and will be available to those affected directly or indirectly by COVID-19, including those not eligible for Employment Insurance. 

“We are heartened to see the government moving to simplify the process for workers needing assistance,” said Frache. “However, we want to remind them that many workers who have already applied for Employment Insurance will be receiving only 55% of previous income - significantly less than $500 per week. These rates are not enough to pay the bills for workers who were in low- or minimum-wage employment. For those who are already receiving EI income support or who have already applied, it’s absolutely crucial their EI weekly benefits be no less than $500 per week,” said Frache. 

“It is vital the new Emergency Benefit reaches the growing number of workers in really precarious situations,” said Deena Ladd, executive director of the Workers’ Action Centre. “We are really worried that some of the stated program details may exclude workers who are in crisis right now. At the Centre, we are hearing from people who don’t have bank accounts or social insurance numbers; we are assisting newcomers without employment history or tax records; and we work with people who have been forced into the informal economy through no fault of their own.”

“We need to ensure all workers, regardless of income level and immigration status, get the support they need,” said Ladd. “Remember, we need to protect the people who are keeping buildings clean and safe for all of us, delivering food and who are caring for our seniors and our children. Many workers who are providing essential services right now, have no social safety net or even minimum protections under the law.”  

“I’m optimistic we can develop systems that will get the support to workers in need,” said Ladd. “But we must not overlook those in the most desperate situations and who are most vulnerable to getting sick. That’s why we are urging the government to consult with organizations that are on the frontlines in providing supports for these workers. We need to find solutions that will work for everyone.”

Frache agrees. “Whether we are undocumented, whether we are eligible for or receiving EI, or whether we are part of the gig economy, we all deserve immediate access to income supports. If there’s one thing we’ve learned from this pandemic, it’s that we can’t protect ourselves unless we protect everyone.” 

The application process for the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit will be available in early April and government documents say workers should be receiving their first payment within 10 days of applying. More information about the program details will be released as the regulations are developed.

The Fight for $15 and Fairness continues to call for 21 paid emergency leave days for all workers – 7 paid days permanently and an additional 14 paid days during pandemics. This is especially crucial since the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit appears to be available only to those workers who have been without work for 14 days. Dramatic improvements in access to and the amount of support provided by Employment Insurance are still necessary and must be a priority, including reducing the hours threshold to 360 for all workers.

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For more information or to arrange interviews:
Nil Sendil
Communications Coordinator, Fight for $15 & Fairness
[email protected] l 647-710-5795

The full list of protective measures demanded by the Fight for $15 & Fairness Campaign and Workers' Action Centre are available here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Federal measures for COVID-19 still fall short in addressing the emergencies facing workers as economic crisis worsens for those in the most vulnerable positions

(TORONTO, Mar 18, 2020) -- The Fight for $15 and Fairness and the Workers' Action Centre are calling on the federal government to ensure a weekly minimum payment of $573 for all financial support programs during the pandemic, whether administered through EI regular and special benefits, the Emergency Care Benefit or the yet-to-be released COVID-19 Emergency Support Benefit for workers who can’t access EI. $573 is the maximum weekly benefit under current EI rules.

“The Federal government’s new Emergency Care Benefit sounds promising,” said Pam Frache, Coordinator of the Fight for $15 and Fairness. “But if it is administered along the lines of EI, providing only a portion of previous wages, it will be meaningless for the workers who need it most. Providing only 55% of a minimum wage is a disaster.” The Emergency Care Benefit announced earlier today is intended for those who must stay home from work for illness, self-isolation, or to look after children. 

“Canada – and the provinces – should be following the lead of Quebec that is providing $573 weekly assistance for workers who must self-isolate,” said Deena Ladd, Executive Director of the Workers’ Action Centre. “Federal and provincial governments keep saying they will spare no expense to look after workers, well now is the time to put money where their mouths are.”

“We have real concerns about the length of time workers will be without income,” said Ladd. “Workers living paycheque to paycheque can’t afford to lose a day’s pay, let alone a week’s pay. We need the federal government to waive the one-week waiting period for all EI regular and special benefits – not just for sickness benefits due to COVID 19.” 

“Our centre is also being inundated with phone calls from workers who are saying they can’t get through on the EI hotline,” added Ladd. “This reflects chronic understaffing of our EI system. We need a dramatic increase in EI staff – and we urgently need information to be made available in multiple languages online and over the phone.”

“There’s another potential crisis looming as well,” said Frache. “The government’s website says that applications for COVID 19 Emergency Support Benefit – the benefits that are intended to help those who can’t get EI – won’t be available until April with no guarantee of turnaround time for workers in the most desperate situations and who urgently need money now” 

“One thing is becoming increasingly clear: this chaos – borne by people in the most vulnerable situations – stems directly from the absence of paid emergency leave rules at both provincial and federal levels,” said Ladd. “Had we had policy in place that mandated at least 7 paid days of emergency leave for all workers, provincially and federally, and had these policies provided for an additional 14 days of paid emergency leave during a pandemics like COVID-19, we wouldn’t have the financial desperation facing millions of people across Canada.”  

“We continue to be shocked that no level of government has prioritized adequate minimum paid emergency leave days,” said Frache. “All the medical evidence shows that paid emergency leave policies of not less than 7 days, pay for themselves by allowing sick workers to stay home or look after sick kids, and by containing the spread of flu and other contagious diseases. In the context of coronavirus, paid emergency leave laws provincially and federally would have better protected public health – and bought the federal government time to roll out an effective, comprehensive plan to stabilize the economy.”

“We continue to demand action on paid emergency leave provincially and federally, and we look forward to additional announcements that will ensure that long term and temporary measures provide workers with adequate financial support to protect themselves, their families and their communities,” said Ladd. “As we have been saying, there’s not a moment to lose.”

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For more information or to arrange interviews:
Nil Sendil
Communications Coordinator, Fight for $15 & Fairness
[email protected] l 647-710-5795

POUR DIFFUSION IMMÉDIATE
Les nouvelles mesures fédérales dans le cadre de la lutte contre le coronavirus sont très en deçà des nécessités d’urgences auxquelles font face les classes travailleuses les plus vulnérables

(TORONTO, Mars 18, 2020) -- Le « Workers’ Action Centre » ainsi que le « Fight for $15 and Fairness » demande au gouvernement fédéral d’assurer un salaire hebdomadaire de $573 minimum, à tous les travailleurs et à toutes les travailleuses qui ont besoin d’assistance financière, durant toute la période de la pandémie, peu importe que ces travailleurs ou travailleuses soient éligibles à l’assurance-emploi ou non, ou que ces travailleurs ou travailleuses soient éligibles à un programme d’aides gouvernementales ou non. $573 par semaine est le minimum prévu par la loi, en guise d’assurance-emploi.

Selon la coordonnatrice du « Fight for $15 and Fairness », Pam Frache, le nouveau programme d’aide d’urgence du fédéral semble prometteur. Toutefois, si cela demeure arrimé au programme traditionnel d’assurance-emploi, les travailleurs et travailleuses qui en ont le plus besoin risquent d’en pâtir. N’offrir que juste les 55% du salaire minimum serait un désastre. Le nouveau programme d’aide d’urgence du fédéral, dont l’annonce a été faite aujourd’hui, est destinée à des travailleurs et travailleuses, qui devront rester à la maison, soit parce qu’ils ou elles sont déjà malades, soit parce qu’ils ou elles doivent s’auto-confiné(e)s, soit simplement parce qu’ils ou elles doivent s’occuper de leurs enfants que la fermeture des écoles confine à la maison.

Pour la directrice exécutive du « Workers’ Action Centre », Deena Ladd, le fédéral, de même que toutes les autres provinces, devraient suivre l’exemple du Québec, et garantir un revenu hebdomadaire de $573 minimum, à quiconque devra s’auto-confiner. Le fédéral et les provinces promettent inlassablement ne vouloir faire économie d’aucun effort, pour protéger les travailleurs et travailleuses. C’est le moment de le prouver.

« Nous nous inquiétons énormément, quant à la durée où les travailleurs et travailleuses devront rester sans salaire », affirme Madame Ladd. Pour Madame Ladd, « Lorsque sa vie est régulée, de chèque de paye à chèque de paye, l’on ne peut se permettre le luxe de perdre, ne serait-ce qu’une seule journée de paye. Nous demandons, au gouvernement fédéral, d’exonérer de la période de transition d’une semaine avant le début des prestations d’assurance-emploi, non pas juste pour la période de la pandémie, mais pour toute prestation d’assurance-emploi ».

« Le manque criard de personnels devant gérer les dossiers de prestations d’assurance-emploi, se répercute sur notre centre, en termes de volume d’appels que nous recevons chaque jour, de travailleurs et de travailleuses ne pouvant joindre personne des services d’assurance-emploi. De plus, il faut, de toute urgence, embaucher du personnel multilingue, pouvant répondre aux inquiétudes des travailleurs et travailleuses, que ce soit au téléphone ou en personne », affirme Madame Ladd.

Selon Madame Frache, « il y a également un arbre qui cache la forêt : le délai qui nous sépare de maintenant à avril, moment où le site web du gouvernement indique la disponibilité des fonds, risque d’être fatal à nombre de travailleurs et travailleuses qui sont, déjà, dans une grande précarité. C’est ici et maintenant que l’on a besoin de l’aide d’urgence d’accompagnement des travailleurs et travailleuses, dans le nécessaire effort de tous, de limiter les risques de propagations massives du coronavirus ».

Pour Madame Ladd, « l’absence de mesures, tant au fédéral que dans les provinces, pour des prestations d’urgence et immédiates, fait planer le chaos, sur la tête des travailleurs et travailleuses déjà dans la précarité. Si les provinces, de même que le fédéral, mettaient en place une politique commune de prestation d’urgence de 7 jours minimum à tous les travailleurs et à toutes les travailleuses, majorée de 14 jours en cas de pandémies du type du Covid-19, des millions de Canadien-ne-s ne seraient pas dans le désespoir financier dans lequel ils ou elles se trouvent actuellement ».

Quant à Madame Fache, elle se dit encore sous le choc, qu’aucun palier de nos gouvernements, n’ait encore pensé faire sa priorité d’une assurance de prestations minimum garanties, en cas de congés d’urgence. « Toutes les études démontrent qu’un système d’une assurance de prestations minimum garanties, s’autofinancerait, si tous les travailleurs et toutes les travailleuses pouvaient se permettre un congé-maladie, en s’auto-confinant, pour éviter la propagation de la grippe, ou d’autres maladies contagieuses. Dans ce contexte de Covid-19 par exemple, une telle législation aurait mieux protégé notre réseau de santé publique. Cela aurait, sûrement, donné davantage de marges de manœuvres au gouvernement fédéral, afin qu’il puisse penser à un meilleur programme de protection de notre économie ».

« Nous continuons d’exiger de nos gouvernements, tant provinciaux que fédéral, une législation pour une assurance de prestations minimum garanties, en situations d’urgence. Nous continuons d’espérer que de nouvelles annonces se feront, dans le sens de mesures, à plus ou moins long termes, pour assurer, aux travailleurs et aux travailleuses, des protections financières adéquates, pour eux et elles-mêmes et pour leurs familles », soutient Madame Ladd. « Comme nous le constatons, nous ne devons perdre aucune seconde ».

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We are calling for immediate Health Emergency Labour Protections to cope with the devastating impacts of COVID-19, click here to sign our Canada-wide petition. These supports are the only way all of us will be able to follow the public health advice to contain the spread of coronavirus.

But most provincial and federal leaders are failing us.

Not a single provincial government has moved to ensure that employers provide 21 paid emergency leave days for all workers -- 7 paid days as a permanent measure and an additional 14 paid days during pandemics like COVID-19. Without paid leave days, too many of us are forced to choose between losing pay and going to work sick. In ordinary times, this is a terrible situation. But during COVID-19, it is a public health disaster. 

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That’s why we’re demanding H.E.L.P.:   

• 21 paid emergency leave days
• An immediate, non-repayable emergency fund 
• Greater access to Employment Insurance
• No worker left behind

Sign our petition now, click here. Your email will be sent to Prime Minister Trudeau and your local provincial or territorial leader. 

Remember, those of us who are least likely to have paid leave also prepare and deliver food. We work in malls and grocery stores. We clean offices and public buildings. And we care for seniors as personal support workers and in long-term care homes. We care for children as education workers, early childhood educators, and as live-in care workers without full citizenship status.

Those of us who are federally-regulated, staff airports, drive buses and handle money at banks.

We all need protection!

Too many of us have neither paid leave nor EI. Ordering closures without income supports when we lose hours -- or our jobs -- will turn the current health emergency into an economic crisis. The Quebec government showed real leadership by announcing a living allowance of $573 for workers who need to self isolate. The federal government must also step up now to create a non-repayable emergency fund for workers who are directly or indirectly impacted by COVID-19 and to enhance Employment Insurance.

As we heard from Canada’s Chief Medical Officer, the window for containing the virus is closing. Every hour we delay in making it possible for all of us to stay home when sick, or practice social distancing, is an hour in which COVID-19 will spread. To read our full set of Health Emergency Labour Protections, click here.

We need to work together to get H.E.L.P. Send the email now. There’s not a second to lose.

The full list of protective measures demanded by the Fight for $15 & Fairness Campaign and Workers' Action Centre are available here.

(TORONTO, Mar 16, 2020) —As the effects of the coronavirus unfold, it's clear that millions of workers across Canada are losing income, losing jobs and are being forced to go to work sick.

“It is simply staggering that in a context where millions of people could be infected with COVID-19, there has been no movement by the federal government -- or any province in the country -- to provide adequate paid sick days and job protection for workers who need it in order to stay home when they’re sick,” said Pam Frache, Coordinator of the Fight for $15 and Fairness. On Wednesday, federal health minister Patty Hajdu said between 30 and 70 per cent of the population could acquire COVID-19.

“The disaster facing workers is being compounded by public policy measures that fail to address the needs of workers,” said Deena Ladd, Executive Director of the Workers’ Action Centre. “Hundreds of thousands of workers will be without wages as schools and universities close and as public events are cancelled. Neither the Ontario nor federal government has moved to protect workers in this time of crisis.” 

On Thursday, the Ontario government announced that schools will be closed for an additional two weeks following March break. “But who will bear the burden of school closures?” asked Ladd. “Parents who work – including single parents – will be scrambling for child care while frontline workers will be under enormous pressure to sacrifice their own health to fill the gaps created by these closures.”

“We are very worried about the health consequences for grandparents who step in to help with child care,” said Carolina Jimenez, who is a registered nurse and coordinator of the Decent Work and Health Network. “We have heard reports from Italy that the unintended consequences of school closures was spreading COVID-19 to the elderly.” 

“In the context of a pandemic, we can’t rely on the usual sources of support such as grandparents or neighbourhood collective care,” said Jess Lyons of the Ontario Parent Network. “When education workers were taking action to protect our public school system, parents were working together to provide “solidarity camps” to ease the gap in child care. That’s simply not possible in light of coronavirus. Parents will need to stay home with their kids. And they desperately need adequate financial support to do so.”

Early childhood educators are really worried about the impact of school closures in Ontario. “I'm a substitute registered early childhood educator for my local school board,” said Brandi Wilson who works in Sault Ste Marie. “I work every single day, but I'm not technically on a long-term contract. If my child care centre closes, I won’t get paid for those weeks.”

Another early childhood educator, Laura Lepper, who works in a private, for-profit child care centre, has already used all her paid sick days as a result of an outbreak in her workplace in January. She is now facing the prospect of another two weeks of lost pay. “How am I supposed to pay my bills?”

“What about the impacts on live-in care workers?” added Ladd. “Many live-in care workers are without full citizenship. They are already vulnerable because of inadequate employment protections. They will be under even more pressure to fill gaps in child care and household responsibilities. Who is looking out for the health and well-being of these workers?”

As for Friday’s announcement by federal finance minister Bill Morneau, Frache said: “It is unbelievable the federal government has provided $10 billion for banks and corporations, but not a single additional penny for workers.”

“The federal government’s decision to ease access to EI work sharing and waive the one week waiting period for benefits means nothing for the 60 percent of unemployed people who do not receive EI when they need it. We need an emergency fund for all workers who can’t get EI and who are impacted directly or indirectly by COVID-19,” said Frache. “And we need to make it easier for workers to get EI by reducing the eligibility requirement to 360 hours. This is vital for the vast numbers of workers in precarious, part-time and contract work across Canada.”

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For more information or to arrange interviews:
Nil Sendil
Communications Coordinator, Fight for $15 & Fairness
[email protected] l 647-710-5795

Three crucial struggles need our urgent solidarity. In each case, what we do over the next few days will shape the legacy we leave for future generations.

Support Ontario educators - Feb 21!

On Friday, February 21, 200,000 educators across Ontario will be taking strike action to defend quality public education AND decent jobs in our communities.

This is historic - with all four educators' unions taking action on the same day. 

Having exhausted all other options to protect public education, these dedicated people have no choice but to withhold their services. There can be no business as usual when our kids' education is on the line. The bigger the turnout on Friday, February 21 the better the chances we have of pushing back against the Conservative government's attacks on public services and workplace protections. 

What you can do:

1. Visit an educators' picket line or action in your local community. On Friday, if you're in Toronto, join the Community Solidarity Rally at Queen's Park, which begins at 11:00 AM (click here for more details). Download and print this placard to bring with you.
2. Call or email your local Member of Provincial Parliament. Let them know you support educators and demand the government reverse the cuts.
3. Show your support on social media. Follow #OntEdStrike and #CutsHurtKids. (If you also include #15andFairness it will be easier for us to retweet you!)

Solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en

Solidarity actions are continuing across Canada over the next few days. In Toronto, there will be an Indigenous-led round dance at Queen's Park on Saturday, February 22 at 12:00 noon. To RSVP and share on Facebook, click here. 

To find solidarity actions in your community, this Facebook link is currently the best link we have (click here). Please note: the Feb. 16 date in this link is actually a start date, and solidarity is ongoing, so don't be confused. Once you've clicked the link, be sure to scroll down to find your town or area. If you don't see something in your area, ask around. Organizers are scrambling to centralize information, so be patient if an event is not yet listed. 

Mainstream media reports the RCMP has announced they will be withdrawing from Wet'suwet'en territory. While this may seem like concession, as CBC reports, the RCMP's offer is only a partial withdrawal and it is contingent on the Wet'suwet'en allowing some access to Coastal Gas Link (CGL). It will be up to the Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs to respond, but the crucial issue for allies is to keep building solidarity. The only reason the RCMP are even making this gesture is due to the determination of the Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs, frontline Land Defenders, and all those rising in solidarity across Canada. 

Let's be clear: there can be no nation-to-nation talks with the Canadian government so long as the Wet'suwet'en are under any threat of violence from either the RCMP or the Canadian military.

Wet'suwet'en territories are unceded. This means Indigenous title has never been extinguished and Canada has no legal or moral authority on Wet'suwet'en territory. Non-Indigenous allies have an obligation to stop Canada from illegally invading Wet'suwet'en soveriegn territory. To learn more, click here.

Get on a bus Feb. 22! The People vs Conservative Cuts

Buses are departing from across Ontario this Saturday morning for a demonstration in Niagara Falls at 10:30 am.

This demonstration - led by the Ontario Federation of Labour - coincides with the Conservative Party convention. We must send a strong message to this government that Ontario says NO to the cuts to our public services and NO to the rollbacks of our workplace rights. Click here to find a bus leaving from your community. Please follow the instructions on the page to RSVP for your local bus to secure a seat. 

Thank you all so much for your incredible support for educators, for decent jobs, for public services, for climate justice, and for Indigenous sovereignty.

We especially thank you for understanding that we will never win decent work for all of us if we don't link our struggles for justice in the here and now. 

See you in the streets!

This Valentine's Day, we urgently need your help on a case of wage theft. 

2 years ago, Isabelle and Nia filed claims at the Ministry of Labour when they realized their paychecks were not adding up. After investigating, the Ministry ordered Mankind Grooming to pay Isabelle $4952.99 and Nia $4036.87 in wages. 16 months later, Mankind still refuses to pay the workers in full and the Ministry has done little to enforce their legal order.

This Valentine's Day, show your love <3 for workers and demand justice.

CALL NOW: Tell Anka Miron, the owner of Mankind Grooming, to pay Isabelle and Nia in full! Dial: 416-551-1113 Click here to read the Toronto Star article with more details on Mankind Grooming's shameful case of wage theft.

No worker should have to wait 2 years to be paid. Isabelle and Nia are owed thousands of dollars, and deserve justice now.

Mankind is just one example of what Doug Ford's "Open for Business" Ontario means for workers. Since coming to office, the Ford government has reduced fines for law-breaking employers, frozen the hiring of Ministry of Labour inspectors and gutted legal protections for workers.

Please call 416-551-1113 now to help Isabelle and Nia get justice. Let's send a message to every employer in Ontario, we won't let them get away with wage theft.

Since the first confirmed case of coronavirus in Canada, the advice from public health officials has been clear: stay home if you are sick. But, for millions of Ontario workers who had their paid sick days taken away by the Ford government just one year ago, this is not an option. 

Without the critical protection provided by paid sick days, the fear of the virus is spreading faster than the virus itself. The panic and misinformation is especially fanning racism and xenophobia, putting the livelihood of workers at Chinese Canadian establishments at risk.

Today, in a Toronto Star exclusive, health providers are calling for emergency government action to protect workers and the public. Click here to read and share the full story.

We need real government leadership to:

• Implement 7 paid sick days for all workers!
  No one should be forced to make the impossible choice between paying rent and staying home when sick without pay. Lack of paid sick days means we force millions of workers into an impossible situation, and place them and the health of their families at risk.

• End the requirement for workers to submit doctor’s notes when they use sick days.
  At this time of over-crowding, Ontario’s health care system does not need those suffering from colds and flu to be filling emergency or clinic waiting rooms, risking complications for themselves or contagion for others. Sick notes are a costly barrier to workers needing sick days, and a burden on our health care system.

• Create an emergency, non-repayable funding package for workers experiencing loss of income due to the direct or indirect consequences of coronavirus.
  During the SARS crisis, we saw how workers in the service, health, grocery, and hospitality sectors were particularly hard hit by misinformation and racism. This meant job loss or reduced hours at work. All levels of government must come together to create this emergency fund to protect workers, especially Chinese Canadians who are being disproportionately affected.

Click here to read full text of the open letter.

After taking office, the Ford government wasted no time in scrapping our paid sick days and reducing up to 10 job-protected sick days to 3, despite majority public opposition and against the advice of medical professionals.

Now, with the safety of our communities on the line, Premier Ford must act just as quickly to bring back the public health tools we need to protect us.

Ontarians deserve nothing less.

Canada's parliament resumed this week. Now's the time to step up the pressure on our federal Members of Parliament to immediately implement the promised $15 federal minimum wage -- and index it annually to cost of living increases.

Workers needed a $15 federal minimum wage five years ago. We shouldn't have to wait even one more day for the government to make good on its election promise. 

What can you do?

• Click here to send an email to the Prime Minister, federal Minister of Labour, and opposition party leaders. (Many thanks to the Canadian Labour Congress for setting up this tool.)

• Share (or re-share) this graphic on Facebook! Or on Twitter! 

• Drop by the constituency office of your local MP to let the staff or the MP know you want immediate action on decent work and wages. To find your federal MP, click here. Better yet - download and print this beautiful window sign and bring it with you. Take a picture with the staff or the MP then ask them to display the sign on their window or door. Share the picture on social media and tag us. Twitter: @FairWagesNow or use #15andFairness so we can retweet you! 

We have a really good chance of winning a $15 federal minimum wage for workers in federally regulated sectors like banking, airlines, transportation, telecommunications, and more -- but only if we mobilize to get it. Make no mistake: the big business lobby is working hard behind the scenes to delay and discourage federal action. To win, we need to need to make our voices heard. There's not a moment to lose!

Let's stay organized in 2020!

January has flown by, but we are already organizing in communities and workplaces across the province. Click here to see and RSVP for events coming up in your community. For the listings on Facebook click here. And of course, if you don't see an event near you, consider hosting one! Email us for help getting started. 

2019 has been an incredible year of resistance! Despite the Ford government's ongoing attacks on our rights at work, we protected important gains. We even made strides on the Canada Labour Code! Please consider making a donation to continue this important work! (click here).

Together, we preserved important wins for Ontario workers, including:

• A $14 minimum wage. This translates to a 27% increase from $11.00 when we first launched the campaign.
• Annual cost-of-living adjustments. Starting in 2020, the minimum wage will be adjusted on October 1 each year to keep up with inflation.
• Job-protected emergency leave for sickness & bereavement. 1.7 million workers can no longer be fired for taking an unplanned day off.
• Better rules against misclassification. Now, it's harder for employers to pretend their workers are "self-employed" to keep them from accessing protections under the Employment Standards Act. 

Over 2019, we continued the fight to protect workers against bad bosses. When a 5th temp worker was killed at Fiera Foods in September, we launched a targeted campaign demanding Premier Doug Ford implement an existing law to protect temp agency workers. Section 83(4) of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act is a previous win that makes companies using temp agency workers liable under WSIB when temp agency workers are killed or injured on the job. When enacted, this law will save lives! 

Following the broad public support we built in Ontario for our demands, nearly 1-million federally-regulated workers across Canada got new rights! 

• The Canada Labour Code now includes 3 paid sick days (a first across the country!) and better scheduling rights. The right to equal pay for equal work and stronger enforcement rules will kick in next year.
• PLUS: A $15 federal minimum wage - indexed to inflation - has been promised for 2020! For the thousands of federally-regulated workers earning a minimum wage of less than $12/hr, this wage increase will make a huge difference. Let's keep up the pressure to make sure the government implements this promise right away!

2019 was a tough year, but we built resistance -- and solidarity.

We joined forces with the Migrant Rights Network to push back against the politics of division. This was especially important during the federal election, when white supremacist leaders like Maxime Bernier tried to use racist and anti-immigrant politics to win votes. Instead he lost his seat!

Finally, as a testament to everyone's hard work, Now Magazine readers chose the Fight for $15and Fairness as the "Best Campaign of 2019"!

This award goes to you and thousands of other supporters who fuel this campaign with their time, energy and donations!

Chip-in now to help us build on this momentum: click here

Thank you again for all you've done to make 2019 a successful year.

It's clear we'll need to keep fighting in 2020 to protect what we have and take on bad bosses everywhere. 

We wish you and yours the very best for the holidays and for the year ahead.

Instead of implementing life-saving legislation, Premier Ford had 8 people arrested last month. At the time, we were occupying Ford’s office in response to the 5th temp agency worker death at Fiera Foods, the notorious industrial bakery in Toronto.

NEW VIDEO: Share on Facebook -- Share on Twitter

Ford’s Conservatives have been busy trying to change the channel on the death of Enrico Miranda, who was the 2nd temp worker to die at Fiera Foods under Ford’s watch.

We urgently need Premier Ford’s signature on Section 83(4) of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act to stop companies like Fiera Foods from treating workers’ lives as disposable. This existing legislation, when enacted, will make companies financially responsible under WSIB for the death and injuries of temp workers -- a more deterrent penalty than the current one-off fines under the Occupational Health and Safety Act which Fiera seems to ignore.

**SCROLL DOWN**
TO JOIN US AT AN UPCOMING ACTION

Now with the Ontario Legislature back in session, NDP MPPs (including Wayne Gates, Catherine Fife, Jessica Bell, Tom Rakocevic and Lisa Gretzky) have been demanding urgent action on a daily basis to protect temp agency workers. Shamefully, Premier Doug Ford and Labour Minister Monte MacNaughton have offered no response on why they are delaying.

With your help, we pressured Fiera Foods to show their workers some respect. Now let’s get Ford to do the same! When Enrico Miranda was killed, Fiera refused to stop production. But when we held a rally outside the factory to call for justice, they cancelled workers’ shifts without pay. Thanks to our public shaming campaign, the company has now paid workers for these shifts (a first), apologized to them for not stopping production (also a first) and even held a moment of silence. 

To ensure the safety of Fiera Foods workers, and every temp agency worker across Ontario, we must keep up the pressure! Temp workers are twice as likely to get injured on the job because of an ongoing loophole in our laws, which Ford can close with the stroke of a pen. Learn why Section 83(4) is so crucial by reading this excellent op-ed in Maclean’s by Deena Ladd, who is one of the 8 people who got arrested while demanding Ford’s signature.

Thanks for your ongoing support! Please join us at an upcoming action to keep building pressure! Can’t join in person? Call Premier Ford now 416-325-1941, to demand his signature on Section 83(4).

Thursday, November 14th
BEAMSVILLE, Communities not cuts rally
11 AM | 4961 King St
Click here to RSVP on Facebook

Thursday, November 14th
ETOBICOKE, Rally at Doug Ford's office
12 PM - 2 PM | Doug Ford's constituency office
Click here to RSVP on Facebook

Monday, November 18th
TORONTO, Flu Fighter Outreach in support of Paid Sick Days
12 PM - 1:30 PM | South-west corner of University Ave and College
Click here to register or share on Facebook

Tuesday, November 19th
TORONTO, Organizing Meeting
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM | 720 Spadina Ave Unit 223
Click here to register or share on Facebook

Tuesday, November 19th
OTTAWA, Organizing Meeting
6 PM - 7:30 PM | Centretown Community Health Centre
Click here to register or share on Facebook

Wednesday, November 20th
ETOBICOKE, Know Your Rights Workshop
6 PM - 8 PM | LAMP Community Center RM 301
Click here to register or share on Facebook

Thursday, November 21st
NORTH BAY, Know Your Rights Workshop
12 PM - 6 PM | 222 McIntyre St W,  Unit 105
Register by contacting 1-866-470-2173 or send an email to [email protected]. For more info click here.

Saturday, November 23rd
SCARBOROUGH, Know your Rights Workshop
12:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Scarborough Civic Centre. Committee Room 1
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

With the federal election wrapped and a new batch of MPs representing us in Ottawa, we now have even more opportunities to advance a decent work agenda federally. But of course, nothing is ever certain; if we want to take advantage of the new political terrain, we'll have to keep fighting for our rights and - crucially - for unity. To see why, it's worth taking stock of what we accomplished together during the past election.

New possibilities

Thanks to all of you, the majority of elected Members of Parliament support a $15 minimum wage – and by 2020 no less! A $15 federal minimum wage will be crucial for airport workers, bank workers and many others – especially in provinces where the minimum wage hovers around $11.00 an hour. We should move quickly to remind MPs of this promise. If implemented, a $15 federal minimum wage will make a big difference in the lives of federally-regulated workers and build the confidence of everyone fighting for a $15 minimum wage across Canada and the United States.  

Second, we won important improvements to the Canada Labour Code before the federal election – but not all of the changes have taken effect. Now, with some continuity in government, we can continue the fight to protect, implement, and strengthen these new provisions.

Third, we are still waiting on the report from the Expert Panel on Modern Federal Labour Standards. The report will make recommendations to further strengthen the Canada Labour Code. We don’t yet know what the recommendations will be, but we should be ready to respond as soon as the report is made public.

Challenging racism & xenophobia

Across Canada, we are united in our desire for decent work, universal public services, and justice for all. 

That’s why politicians and the corporate lobbyists try to divide us, by finding ways to get us to turn on each other. The foresight and intervention of the Migrant Rights Network continues to be a crucial part of the fight to challenge racism and strengthen our unity. All of you who worked so hard to bring the Unite Against Racism message to the federal election and who are doing the work of centring Indigenous leadership and building concrete solidarity, deserve a major shout out. This effort helped to push back against the xenophobia and open racism that pervaded the federal election and we should feel good that Maxime Bernier, leader of the far-right, anti-immigrant People’s Party of Canada, lost his seat.

Sign up to become a Migrant Rights champion:
Let's continue pushing back against racism and xenophobia

Mobilizing matters

There's no doubt the inspiring climate strikes across Canada on Sept. 27 were decisive in shifting the ground in a progressive direction. Hundreds of thousands mobilized in one of the largest week-day protests in decades!

In Ontario, $15 and Fairness supporters like you, brought the decent work lens to the conversation around climate. We also helped amplify the work of the Migrant Rights Network and built solidarity with Indigenous communities. We want to be sure that no worker is left behind as we retool the global economy to reduce carbon emissions, decrease toxic waste, and invest jobs that will heal and nurture people, plants and animals. Thanks to your work, “climate” became a top issue at the ballot box while concerns around “immigration” were cut in half. 

Minority government: More risk, not less

With a minority Liberal government, we can expect that Members of Parliament will be pushed and pulled between those who advocate for corporations and those who advocate for workers and the planet. Pitting us against each other is the go-to strategy of the super rich to keep their power. That's why it's still critical that you speak to your friends, and co-workers about income inequality, climate change, migrant rights, and racism. Sign up now to become a Migrant Justice Champion (click here) and educate your community! Once you sign up, the Migrant Rights Network will connect you with resources so you can lead conversations and facilitate workshops where you are.

Thanks for everything you do!
Together, we will win decent work for ALL.

8 people were arrested and removed from Premier Doug Ford's office last night. They had the courage to put their bodies on the line to prevent more temp agency workers from getting killed.

Click to share on Facebook - Click to share on Twitter

What did Ford do?

Instead of signing existing legislation into effect to stop companies from hiring temp agency workers for the most dangerous jobs, he sent in armed officers to arrest peaceful demonstrators. This is the Premier of Ontario.

Ford promised to govern for the people, but clearly he won't even lift a finger to prevent further workplace deaths. About our occupation, Ford's press secretary said "the actions demonstrated today are never justified." If five temp agency worker deaths -- two under his watch -- are not sufficient justification for action, what is? 

We thank the occupiers for courageously taking action, to pressure Premier Ford to sign Section 83(4) of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act into effect. We also thank the hundreds of people who came out to support the occupation at such short notice -- and the thousands who posted on social media to keep #OccupyFord trending the whole day.

If you haven't, please send an email to the Premier to voice your outrage (click here), and ask your friends to do the same. Better yet, call him right now: at 416-325-1941.

And, if you can spare a dollar, please make a contribution to the cost of the occupation by making a donation here. Thank you for your ongoing support!

Check out the occupation coverage here:
CP24
Toronto Star
insauga.com
Global News
CTV

As of 3 pm today we’ve begun an indefinite occupation of Premier Doug Ford’s office at 823 Albion Road in Etobicoke (Google map directions). If you’re able to, please come as soon as possible!

Click to share on Facebook

Enrico Miranda, the 57 year-old father of two, was killed on September 25 at Fiera Foods. Miranda was the 5th temporary agency worker to die on the job at Fiera, and the 2nd since Premier Ford took office.

Since then, thousands of you emailed Ford, demanding action. We issued an open letter, calling on him to sign section 83(4) of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act to make sure companies like Fiera are held financially responsible under WSIB for the deaths and injuries of temp agency workers. There has been no response from the Premier.

We can’t sit around and wait for another death to happen. Because Ford’s Conservatives have refused to take action, now we have no other choice but to do this occupation. 

#OccupyFord
Get the latest updates on our action on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Community and labour allies have begun this occupation to demand Ford sign section 83(4). But to keep this momentum going, your presence is crucial.

If you are in Toronto, come as soon as possible.

We will hold a gathering at 5 pm, and a movie screening at 9 pm. If you can, come prepared to stay into the night with us. ROUTE by TTC:  The closest bus stop is a 2-minute walk from the office, Albion Rd At Calstock Dr. You can reach it by taking bus 73C from the Royal York subway station.

For our $15 & Fairness supporters across Ontario, you have an equally crucial role to play.

The premier needs to know that our communities are watching him, and he must do the right thing!

• Call Premier Ford NOW: 416-325-1941
• Use the hashtag #OccupyFord to spread the word. We’ll be making regular updates on social media, so stay connected and get ready to amplify us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
• Email the Premier now (click here), and if you have already emailed him, get your friends to do it.

The legislation to stop companies from treating temp agency workers’ lives as disposable already exists. We just need Ford to sign it into effect! Help us make him do it.

If you are in a position to make a donation to sustain this occupation, please make a contribution by clicking here. Every cent helps. Thank you!

TORONTO, Oct. 16, 2019 – Community and labour leaders began an indefinite occupation of Premier Doug Ford’s constituency office at 823 Albion Road in Etobicoke today, demanding his signature on Section 83(4) of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (WSIA) to prevent further workplace deaths in Ontario. To ensure that companies using temp agency workers are held financially responsible for workplace deaths and injuries under WSIB, regulations were drafted in 2018, but still await the Premier’s signature to be implemented.   

Today’s occupation comes following the death of Enrico Miranda, the 57 year-old father of two, who was killed on September 25 at Fiera Foods. Miranda was the 5th temporary agency worker to die on the job at Fiera Foods, and the 2nd since Premier Doug Ford took office.

WHAT: A media briefing with community and labour leaders
WHEN: Wednesday, October 16 at 5:00 pm (the occupation has begun, and will continue indefinitely)
WHERE: Doug Ford’s constituency office at 823 Albion Road in Etobicoke
VISUALS: Signs bearing the names of the five temp agency workers who were killed at Fiera Foods, flowers, candles, an oversized poster of Section 83(4) for Premier Doug Ford to sign, community and labour leaders who will share stories of how this issue impacts them. 

“Premier Doug Ford has left us with no other choice, but to start this occupation today,” said Chris Buckley, President of the Ontario Federation of Labour. “Had Ford implemented Section 83(4) of WSIA, companies like Fiera Foods would be held fully financially responsible for the injuries to temp agency workers. This tragic death could have been prevented. It is time for companies like Fiera Foods to be held accountable.”

In Ontario, temp agency workers are twice as likely to get hurt on the job, compared to directly hired employees. This is due to an ongoing loophole that shields companies from the cost of injuries suffered by the temp agency workers they hire.

“Legislation already exists to stop companies from treating temp agency workers’ lives as disposable,” says Deena Ladd, Executive Director of the Workers’ Action Centre. “All Premier Ford needs to do is to add his signature so it can be enacted. This is a matter of life and death.”

Last week, the Ontario Federation of Labour, Workers’ Action Centre, Jane Finch Action Against Poverty and Fight for $15 & Fairness issued an open letter to Premier Doug Ford demanding he immediately enact of Section 83 (4) of WSIA. To date, there has been no response.

Ford’s refusal to take action to prevent further workplace deaths in Ontario has provoked this indefinite occupation of his office today, with the support of Unifor, CUPE Ontario, Elementary Teachers of Toronto, Ontario Network of Injured Workers, and the Toronto York Region Labour Council, among other community and labour groups.

For latest action updates, look for #OccupyFord on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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For more information or to arrange interviews:
Nil Sendil
Communications Coordinator, Fight for $15 & Fairness
[email protected] l 647-710-5795              

Meagan Perry
Director of Communications, Ontario Federation of Labour
[email protected] l 416-894-3456