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Two weeks have passed since the death of Enrico Miranda, the 5th temp agency worker to be killed at Fiera Foods, but we've heard nothing from Premier Doug Ford. This is the second worker killed at Fiera Foods under Ford's watch. We need to make sure that it is the last.

Open letter: to Doug Ford

Today, we issued an open letter to the Premier, to demand that he immediately close the loophole that allow companies to put temp workers' lives at risk. Together with the Ontario Federation of Labour, Workers' Action Centre and Jane Finch Action Against Poverty, we've given Ford a deadline until Friday to make companies using temp agencies financially responsible under WSIB for workplace deaths and injuries. This law has already passed, it just needs Ford's signature to be implemented.

Click here to read our open letter to Ford

Call now to speak out for workers at Fiera Foods

While we pressure Ford's Conservatives to strengthen protections for us all, help us send a clear message to bad bosses by making a phone call.

Click here to share on Facebook
Click here to share on Twitter

When Enrico Miranda was killed at Fiera Foods, we know the company forced workers to finish their shifts instead of stopping production. But when we held a rally outside the factory, they cancelled their workers’ shifts (without pay!) to keep them away.

Fiera Foods cannot be allowed to operate this way! Call the company now. Dial 416-746-8579 to speak to Fiera’s General Counsel, David Gelbloom.
Let’s demand that they:

• Pay their workers for the cancelled shifts 
• Stop hiding behind temp agencies, and immediately hire the hundreds of temp workers as their direct employees

Organizing builds power: Join Thursday's Walk-in!

As heartbreaking as these injustices are, we know the only way to assert our rights and keep our communities safe is organizing!

55,000 CUPE education workers stood strong to defend quality public services and preserve decent jobs in our communities! But let's remember, it's not the end of the struggle in the education sector!

School walk-ins are still scheduled for this Thursday, October 10. Families, students and teachers across the province will be taking action outside of schools to show we are united against provincial education cuts! To find a school near you to join the walk-in, and other useful resources, click here.

RE: Urgent action required after fifth temp worker death at Fiera Foods 

Dear Premier Doug Ford,

As you know, on Wednesday, September 25, Enrico Miranda, a father of two, was killed on the job. As you also know, Mr. Miranda is the fifth temporary agency worker who has died on the job at Fiera Foods or an affiliated company.

Shockingly, it has been almost two weeks since his death and yet we have heard nothing from you. You have chosen to remain silent, despite having the power to implement legislation that could have prevented this tragedy.

Mr. Ford, this is the second worker killed at Fiera Foods under your watch. 

Had you implemented Section 83(4) of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act - legislation which has already passed, but simply needs your signature - Mr. Miranda might still be alive today.

That’s why we are writing to you to demand that you immediately enact this existing law that will make companies using temp agencies financially responsible under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act for workplace deaths and injuries.

Laws like this will make companies like Fiera Foods think twice before putting temp workers into harm’s way.  

There’s no more time to waste, and we need you to take action to make sure this is the last temp agency worker death.

Implement Section 83(4) of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act - right now!

We expect to hear from you right away, and certainly no later than Friday, October 11.

Ontarians deserve to know whether their premier will stand up for workers – or whether he will remain silent and continue allowing companies to treat their workers’ lives as disposable.
 

Signatories:
Butterfly GoPaul, Resident Member, Jane Finch Action Against Poverty

Deena Ladd, Executive Director, Workers’ Action Centre

Chris Buckley, President, Ontario Federation of Labour

Pam Frache, Provincial Coordinator, Fight for $15 and Fairness

First we want to thank everyone who joined us at the rally outside Fiera Foods yesterday, where a 5th temp agency worker died on the job September 25.

Click here to sign the petition:
We're demanding urgent action from the Ford government

With less than 48-hours notice, over a 100 people gathered to demand justice for workers at Fiera Foods, including community advocates, union members, and local residents.

To pay our respect to Enrico Miranda, the 57 year-old father of two who was the 5th victim of Fiera Foods, we started the rally with a minute of silence. We also collected over a $1,000 to help the family with funeral costs. Please donate here if you can; it's the fund set up by Enrico's friends.

When Enrico was killed last week, Fiera forced workers to finish their shifts instead of shutting down the factory. But when they learned of our rally to support workers, Fiera chose to cancel two shifts to prevent workers from seeing so much community support and learning more about their rights.

This move is even more despicable because these workers were not paid for these last-minute shift cancellations. This cruel act is only possible because the Ford government rolled back the laws that would have protected workers against such last-minute shift cancellations.

The government must act now to ensure the safety and well-being of workers at Fiera. Sign the petition now, click here. Help us pressure Premier Ford to close the loophole that allows companies to treat temp agency workers' lives as disposable. There is no time to lose.

We're demanding stronger legal protections for temp agency workers and a criminal investigation into Fiera Foods.

Click here to watch the CityNews coverage
Click here to see photos from the rally

Thank you for your ongoing support! Please stay tuned for details on upcoming actions against Fiera.

Last week a 5th temp agency worker was killed at Fiera Foods, a food processing plant in Toronto. We’re filled with heartbreak and rage, because we know this death could have been prevented.

Tell the Ford government to take immediate action:
Click here to sign the petition

Fiera hires 70% of its workforce through temporary staffing agencies in order to keep costs low. How? Because in Ontario, the cost of injuries to temp workers are applied to the temp agencies, NOT to the companies that hire them. For bad bosses like Fiera, the lives of temp agency workers are cheap. We need to: Make. This. End. Now. 

Raise your voice to demand the Ford Government act immediately to close this loophole and bring in workplace protections to ensure our safety on the job -- click here to add your name. The legislation to close this loophole already exists, but Ford’s Conservatives need to enact it. 

When Premier Ford rolled back the workplace protections we won previously, he gave bad bosses the green light to abuse our rights with impunity. There was no excuse for lowering fines for employers who break the law or allowing companies to pay temp agency workers less than their directly hired co-workers. Ford must reverse course now!

Click to sign up for the rally -- Click to share on Facebook

To send a clear message to the government, and put Fiera Foods on notice, we’re calling for a protest this Wednesday. Together with local community groups and labour unions, we will hold a public rally outside the factory where the 57 year-old father of two died. Please join us on Wednesday, October 2nd, at 3:00 PM at 50 Marmora Street to say workers at Fiera Foods are not alone. Click here to sign up for the rally!

Can’t join us at the rally? Please take a moment right now to sign the petition to the Conservative government (click here). We are demanding that they: 

1. Enact immediately the legislation (Section 83(4) of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act) that make companies that use temp workers responsible for the cost of workplace injuries and death. Only then will companies begin to protect workers health and safety. 
   
   
2. Make it illegal for companies to rely on temp agency workers for the bulk of their workforce, by:
   - Ensuring temp agency workers become directly-hired workers of the client company after three (3) months of assignment;
   - Providing just cause protection for a temp agency worker if, at the end of the assignment, another temp worker is hired to do the work previously done by the terminated temp worker;
   - Placing a 20% cap on the number of temp agency workers used by a company at any given time;
   - Ending all penalties or fees when a client company directly hires workers
   
   
3. Restore the legal protections cancelled by the Ford government, including the right to equal pay for equal work for part-time, contract, and temp agency workers; paid sick days; fairer scheduling rules; $15 minimum wage; and more.

Finally, we must also demand that Fiera Foods be investigated for criminal negligence causing death under Canada’s Criminal Code. This is the 5th death at Fiera. It is a crime.

Friday is an historic day as millions around the world take to the streets to demand urgent and meaningful action to address climate change and environmental degradation. Inspired in part by 16 year old Greta Thunberg who launched #FridaysForFuture, young people around the world are calling for urgent action to stop climate disaster. September 20 is only the first day of a whole week of actions culminating on Friday, September 27 with mass actions in Ontario, Quebec, and elsewhere across Canada. 

To find an action in your community, visit the Climate Strike Canada website here. To find an action in Toronto, click here. 

To RSVP for any upcoming $15 and Fairness events in your community, visit our Facebook events page here.

We know we can only stop the climate crisis by transforming the economy and empowering workers to be part of the solution. That means migrant workers must have permanent resident status; existing low-paid workers in low-carbon jobs need higher wages, fairness, and respect; and better paid workers in high-carbon jobs need a fair transition to low-carbon jobs. 

Let's make sure no worker is left behind as we transition to a just and sustainable future. 

To do this, we need to stand strong against racism and xenophobia so that the global 99% can really unite to fight for the kind of world we need, want, and deserve. Afterall, there will be no climate justice without racial, social, and economic justice. 

• To download posters and placards for this week's Climate actions, click here.
• To download the $15 & Fairness Climate petition, click here. 
• To download leaflets promoting the September 27 Climate Rally at Queen's Park in Toronto, click here. 

Wherever you are across Ontario, find an action or join us on social media to help make decent work and fairness for ALL central to our vision for climate justice. 

If you use one or two of these hashtags it will be easier for everyone to amplify your posts: #ClimateStrike #UniteAgainstRacism #15andFairness #FridaysforFuture 

Don't forget to RSVP for -- and share -- any of our upcoming $15 and Fairness events in your community: click here to visit our Facebook events page.

See you in the streets!

Yesterday, well known anti-immigrant leader Maxime Bernier got an invitation to the Federal Leaders’ debate. Soon his racist views will be televised across the country. 

Take the #UniteAgainstRacism pledge by clicking here.

Right now, it's up to all of us to call out falsehoods during the federal election and reject the politics of division. We can't allow any politician to distract us from the real problems of low-wages and inadequate public services by blaming immigrants or using racist rhetoric. 

For the next 5 weeks, our friends at the Migrant Rights Network will be sending out Election Reality Check updates to keep us informed. Sign up for these updates by clicking here so you can cut through the lies and empty promises circulated by politicians.

To give you a sneak peak of the Election Reality Checks, we are sharing below the one from this morning. If you see a fact you wish your friends and family members also knew, make sure to share it on social media using the hashtag #UniteAgainstRacism, and to stay in the loop sign up for future Election Reality Checks here.

2. Canada doesn’t take its fair share of refugees: Of the over 70 million people globally forced out of their homes, Canada will let in less than 50,000 in 2019. That’s 0.07% of displaced people, despite Canada making up 1.36% of total global wealth (GDP). In Lebanon on the other hand, which has the world’s third highest debt,  1 in 4 people are refugees.

3. Canadian corporations profit from displacement: People are forced to move because of war, “development projects”, persecution and climate change. Canada ranks as one of the top 15 exporters of deadly weapons, hosts many of the worst mining companies and is home to the world’s worst industrial polluting projects – the oil sands. No conversation about refugees is possible without accounting Canadian complicity in displacement

Want to read on? Click here to visit the MigrantRights.Ca website to see the full version of this morning's Election Reality Check with all 9 facts.

The Labour Day weekend is upon us and we're excited to be bringing our Unite Against Racism message to thousands of workers across Ontario! To find a Labour Day event near you, click here and scroll down.

As workers across the province -- and indeed Canada -- we are united in our desire for an immediate $15 minimum wage; for decent work for all; for well-funded, universal public services; and justice for everyone. In fact, recent polling has shown that nearly 70% of Canadians, a strong majority, want the rich and the corporations to pay their fair share of taxes in order to fund anti-poverty programs*.

Without a doubt, the wealthy corporations are threatened by this kind of unity because they don't want to part with their mega-profits. So the 1% and the politicians who represent them, fuel racist and anti-immigrant rhetoric to divide us and make us fight each other for scraps.

But we won't let them get away with it. Even the disgusting billboards promoting Maxime Bernier's xenophobic Peoples' Party that attempted to scapegoat newcomers, were taken down in less than a week thanks to the public outrage**. That should build our confidence to take on bigotry wherever and whenever it appears.

To help us organize, we are proud to share some beautiful materials produced by the Migrant Rights Network. 

To download the posters, click here
To download the leaflet, click here

Please print these posters and display them in your neighbourhood, campus or workplace. And if you're planning to join your local Labour Day event, bring them with.

There is also a pledge sheet to invite every person to promise to unite against racism, click here to download the pledge sheet. By asking people to leave us their contact information, we can stay organized in the days ahead -- please send completed sheets to [email protected]. 

We hope you have a great weekend and happy Labour Day! We'd love to see how you mark the day. Please share your pictures by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. And use the hashtags: #UniteAgainstRacism #LabourDay2019 #15andFairness.

* To see the polling results by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, click here
** To see the news coverage of the xenophobic billboards that were taken down, click here

Thanks to you taking action, nearly 1 million workers in Canada are about to get access to new rights on September 1st. 3 paid sick days (as part of 5-days personal leave), stronger scheduling rights and protections against contract flipping will be coming into effect in two weeks time for federally regulated workers, followed by the right to equal pay for equal work (starting 2020). 

Show your support for decent work reforms: 
Order your (free!) lawn or window sign today -- Click here

These new rights will make a real difference in the lives of federally regulated workers who are in sectors that cross provincial borders (such as banking, telecommunications, trucking, aviation, and more). And we should all be very proud for putting these $15 & Fairness demands at the top of the agenda, first in Ontario and now across Canada.

As you know, we succeeded in making Ontario the very first province in Canada to legislate paid sick days for ALL workers, back in 2018. Although Ford's Conservative government took this basic right (and many other protections) away from millions of workers, our victory is now translating to a new national decent work standard. But, we can't take this for granted.

With the federal election scheduled for October, we must send an urgent message to politicians of all stripes that these reforms CANNOT be touched. When candidates come knocking on our doors for votes, it's crucial that we ask them how they will protect and extend $15 & Fairness reforms. To help make your support visible, we have "Proud to support $15 & Fairness" lawn and window signs! Order a free sign now: click here! We have a limited supply of lawn signs, so make sure to put in an order quickly to get yours before they're gone.

Please join us in decorating our neighbourhoods with these signs to protect the incoming decent work reforms, and continue putting pressure to win $15 & Fairness for every worker in Canada. And scroll below, to find an event near you and meet other decent work supporters:

Wednesday, August 21st
ETOBICOKE, Worker's Rights Workshop
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | LAMP Community Health Center
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

Thursday, August 22nd
TORONTO, Outreach at Christie Pits
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM | Christie Pits 
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

SCARBOROUGH, Meet and Greet Social
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | ACCES Employment
Click here to RSVP

Friday, August 23rd
TORONTO, Outreach in Fairbank
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM | Shortt Street and Eglinton Ave West
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

Saturday, August 24th
SCARBOROUGH, TamilFest Outreach
2:00 PM - 8:00 PM | #21 - 3001 Markham Road
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

HAMILTON, Workers' Rights for People with Disabilities
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | 818 King Steet East
Click here to RSVP via Facebook

Sunday, August 25th
TORONTO, Decent Work Picnic at Viewmount Park
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Viewmount Park
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

Tuesday, August 27th
TORONTO, Toronto Wide Organizing Meeting
6:00 PM - 8:30 PM | 720 Spadina Ave Unit 223
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

Monday, September 2nd
TORONTO, $15 & Fairness at Labour Day
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Trinity Bellwoods Park
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

Sunday, September 8th
BRAMPTON, Brampton Decent Work Picnic
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Chinguacousy Park
Click here to RSVP

Saturday, September 14th
NORTH BAY, Know your Rights Workshop
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | 222 McIntyre St W
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

Premier Ford’s 30% cut to legal aid will deny justice for Ontario’s poorest and most vulnerable. Although Ford shuffled his cabinet, his cuts to critical public services are still happening. We must tell the new Attorney General Doug Downey that the people of this province want him to reverse the cuts to legal aid. 

On July 30th, we were so proud to join the Ontario Wide Day of Action to save our community legal clinics! 

But the fight isn't over. Please take a moment to email MPP Downey or call his office at (705) 726-5538 and tell him that cuts to Legal Aid mean denying Ontario’s most marginalized access to justice. 

Community legal clinics help low-wage workers win back stolen wages from bad bosses, support women flee from domestic violence, and provide fair representation for refugees fleeing death or torture. Ford's cuts mean people who are unable to afford a private lawyer will be denied justice in Ontario's courts. 

Together we can save our community legal clinics! Thank you for standing up for access to justice.

At the half-way mark of 2019, $15 and Fairness fighters have already organized over 100 actions, and trained new leaders across Ontario. A big thank you to everyone who has hit the streets with us this summer! We know it’s been a hot and rainy summer, and we really do appreciate all of you who joined us to fight for fair wages, paid sick days and fairness at work.

From beach parties in Ottawa to workers' rights workshops in Bracebridge, and from outreach in Scarborough to organizing meetings in North Bay our movement is growing one conversation and one supporter at a time. We launched a new chapter in Mississauga and we are preparing for Pride outreach in London. We are also organizing side-by-side with climate and migrant justice networks to support a Green New Deal that puts good jobs and fair wages at its centre and that provides justice for Indigenous communities and migrants. In short, we are fighting for a Green New Deal that leaves no one behind.

Thanks to you, our movement is getting stronger by the day. And there are even more events and actions coming up where we can keep our momentum going. We hope to see you at one of these upcoming actions!

Saturday, July 27th

TORONTO, Outreach in Davenport
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Old Weston Road and St Clair Ave
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

Sunday, July 28th

LONDON, $15 and Fairness joins SEIU at London Pride
11:30 AM - 4:30 PM | King St and Ontario St
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

TORONTO, Picnic in Eglinton Lawrence
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Viewmount Park
Click here to RSVP 

Tuesday, July 30th

ONTARIO-WIDE, Stop Legal Aid Cuts Day of Action
Various times & locations |Click here to find an event in your community
Ford's 30% cuts to legal aid impacts Ontario's most vulnerable communities. Actions happening across Ontario from Sarnia to Bracebridge to Missisuaga. The main rally will be held at Bloor St United Church at 7:30 PM.
To RSVP and for a full listing of events: www.stoplegalaidcuts.ca

TORONTO, Data Entry and Tea Party
5:00 PM - 7:30 PM | 720 Spadina Ave Unit 223
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

SCARBOROUGH, Campaign Meet and Greet
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Scarborough Civic Center Committee Room 2
Click here to RSVP

Wednesday, July 31st

MISSISSAUGA, Mississauga Organizing Meeting
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Mississauga Central Library Classroom 2
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

Thursday, August 1st

GRAVENHURST, Muskoka wants Decent Work!
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM | 510 Muskoka Rd S
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

Sunday, August 4th

BRAMPTON, Brampton Organizing Meeting
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Knightsbridge Community & Senior Citizens Centre
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

Saturday, August 10th

ETOBICOKE, Pizza and Politics Picnic
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Islington Ave and Lakeshore Blvd West
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

Saturday, September 14th

NORTH BAY, Know Your Rights Workshop
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | #5-222 McIntyre Street
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

The Conservative government under Doug Ford is in a deep crisis. Poll after poll has shown their plummeting popularity. Just last week, Premier Ford was booed by nearly 2 million Raptors fans at their recent celebration in Toronto. Such widespread animosity shows the extent to which ordinary Ontarians oppose his austerity agenda. And it means the work we are all doing is even more important.

Join an event near you to keep the pressure up: Click here

When he shuffled his cabinet last week, Premier Doug Ford hoped to hit the reset button on his government. He removed Laurie Scott, the Minister of Labour who took away our $15 minimum wage, paid sick days, the right to equal pay for equal work and so many other protections on the job. But, he then replaced her with Monte McNaughton, who is well-known for his anti-worker views. While Premier Ford may want to change the face of his Cabinet, he is clearly not interested in changing course. This is why it’s crucial we use the summer months to redouble our organizing effort and grow our numbers -- so that we can be bigger and stronger to defend our communities against the cuts and rollbacks we know are coming.

Every action matters. Find an event in your community, click here.

Can’t find an event near you? 
Take the first step to get $15 & Fairness activities going in your neighbourhood. Download our new posters and distribute them (click here), and reply to this email to connect with a $15 & Fairness organizer who can brainstorm with you about ways of getting started! 

Wednesday, June 26th
TORONTO, Worker Rights in the Gig Economy
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM | New Horizons Tower
Click here to RSVP on Facebook

MISSISSAUGA, $15 and Fairness Meet and Greet
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Mississauga Valley Community Centre
Click here to RSVP 

Thursday, June 27th
KINGSTON, On Strike for Sick Days! Support Action
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM | Fort Henry Drive and Highway #2
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

Tuesday, July 2nd
TORONTO, City-wide Organizing Meeting
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM | 720 Spadina Ave Unit 223
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

Wednesday, July 3rd
TORONTO, NO to OSAP changes, YES to fairer wages!
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM | St George and Bloor St W
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

Thursday, July 4th
TORONTO, George Brown $15 & Fairness Outreach
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Kings Lounge, George Brown College - St James Campus
Click here to RSVP 

TORONTO, Climate Work is Decent Work Outreach at Dufferin Station
4:30 PM - 6:00 PM | Dufferin TTC Station
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

BRACEBRIDGE, Know Your Rights at Work (Free workshop)
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | 46 Dominion St
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

Saturday, July 6th
TORONTO, Climate Work is Decent Work Outreach at Evergreen Brickworks
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Evergreen Brickworks Farmers Market
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

ETOBICOKE-LAKESHORE, $15 and Fairness Outreach
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM | The Sydney Grind
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

OTTAWA, Beach Party at Britannia Beach
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Brittania Beach 
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

Sunday, July 7th
TORONTO, Parkdale wants $15 and Fairness
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Queen St W and Jameson Ave
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

BRAMPTON, Organizing Meeting
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Knightsbridge Senior Centre
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

Tuesday, July 9th
TORONTO, Workshop: Unite Against Racism: Busting myths, building power
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | 720 Spadina Ave Unit 202
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

We are done with their lies. The Ford government boasts about finding $3.8 billion in savings for corporations, while blaming migrants and refugees for cuts to public services. They are throwing away millions to get out of the Beer Store contract, but claim we don’t have enough money for our schools and hospitals.

The truth is, there is more than enough for everyone. Will you join us on Sunday, June 16 to denounce the fear-mongering and deception that makes the politics of austerity possible?

Click here to join us in Guelph
Click here to join us in London
Click here to join us in Ottawa
Click here to join us in Peterborough
Click here to join us in Toronto

Here in Ontario and across the country, politicians are fueling racist and anti-immigrant sentiments to divide us, gain power, then implement a pro-corporate agenda that hurts everyone. The damage is real: acts of white-supremacy are on the rise. And while we fight one another for scraps, the super rich simply get richer.

This is why the Fight for $15 & Fairness has pledged to join the #UniteAgainstRacism mobilizations led by the Migrant Rights Network. On June 16, join the cross-country day of action! Let’s reclaim the collective power we hold when we act together to demand fairness for all.
We ALL deserve:
- Decent work.
- Quality, universal, public services.
- The right to live where we want, with our families, without fear of deportation.
- A world free of discrimination and unfairness.
- A world free of war, corporate impunity, and climate change.

Say it with us loud and clear: greedy corporations and unaccountable politicians are the problem, not migrants, not refugees, not the people of color. It is time to stop the cuts that push our communities into deeper poverty and the politics of division that undermine our power. Actions are being updated regularly, find the most current info at: www.migrantrights.ca/June16

Share on Facebook | Share on Twitter

Not able to join us on Sunday, June 16? $15 & Fairness events are happening regularly, visit our website to see upcoming actions you can join.

A new poll released yesterday shows 75% of Ontarians think Premier Ford is taking us in the wrong direction. The public outrage against Ford’s cut to public services and the rollbacks of our rights is so high that 4 in 10 Conservative voters say they wouldn’t vote for the party again.[1]

There is no doubt that the People of Ontario are angry at the Ford government for repeatedly choosing corporate profits over workers, our health and the environment. It’s crucial that we organize this sentiment to create sustained pressure to not only shame the Conservative government, but also to stop the attacks on our communities.

This is why from Muskoka to Malton, and from Niagara Falls  to Ottawa, $15 & Fairness supporters have been organizing local events to hold the Ford government to account and defend our rights against bad bosses. In the coming days please make every effort to join us at a local action near you:

• June 7 & 8 - Power of Many Provincial Days of Action
  June 7 marks one year of resisting government cuts to public services, education, health care and decent work. Labour and community will be hitting the streets throughout Ontario to show that we didn't vote for cuts to public services or attacks on decent work. Join an action in a community near you, click here! 
  
  
• Climate justice means decent work and migrant rights! Sign the pact for a Green New Deal!
  People across the country are coming together to create a shared vision for an economy that protects the planet -- and its inhabitants. Sign the pact here, to get on board. Round-table discussions are taking place everywhere! Click here to find one near you.
  
  We know that any bold vision to protect the environment must include: decent work; universal, high quality public services; permanent resident status for all migrants and refugees; indigenous self-determination, gender justice, and an end to racism; and an end to practices and persecution that displace people and force them to migrate.
  
  Please help us bring this decent work perspective to a Green New Deal town hall near you. We have a specific $15 and Fairness petition tailored to the environmental movement that helps make the link between workers’ & migrant rights and climate justice. You can download the petition here. A complementary leaflet has been produced by the Migrant Rights Network and is available for download here.
  
  
• Support the Niagara workers on strike for $15 & Fairness
  Last year when the minimum wage increased, management started stealing workers’ tips at the Rainforest Cafe. Workers -- mostly women -- decided to form a union to protect themselves and now they’re on strike, and need our help. They are demanding a minimum wage of $15 an hour, respect at work, and an end to sexual violence in the workplace. Across Ontario let’s join forces to help these workers win $15 & Fairness -- please take a moment now to email the employer, click here.

Scroll below to find an action near you!

May 23
SCARBOROUGH, Door knocking outreach in Scarborough
Thursday, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM - Morningside Ave & Lawrence Ave E
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

May 25
MISSISSAUGA, Mississauga wants $15 and Fairness outreach
Saturday, 11: 00 AM - 12:00 PM - 100 Dundas St East
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

May 27
OTTAWA, Ottawa organizing meeting
Monday, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM - 25OneCommunity
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

May 28
BRACEBRIDGE, Parry Sound-Muskoka decent work coffee meet up
Tuesday, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM - Oliver's Coffee Corporation
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

NIPISSING,  Nipissing Decent Work Panel
Tuesday, 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM - White Water Gallery
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

May 29
LONDON, Train the trainer workshop: Building capacity to fight racism & xenophobia
Wednesday, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM - Tolpuddle Cooperative, Common Room
Click here to RSVP

June 1
TORONTO, Injured Workers' Rally
Saturday, 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM - Queens Park
Under Ford’s watch, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board gave a multi-billion dollar gift to employers by cutting their premiums by 30%, while injured workers are denied access to the services they need. On June 1st, join the rally at Queens Park to ensure every Ontario worker gets protected if they get injured on the job.
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

ETOBICOKE, Fighting for $15 and Fairness in Mimico
Saturday, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Birds and Bee's Cafe
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

June 2
BRAMPTON, Brampton organizing meeting
Sunday, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Knightsbridge Senior Citizens Centre
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

June 4
TORONTO, Toronto organizing meeting
Tuesday, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM - 720 Spadina Ave Unit 223
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

June 8
TORONTO, West Toronto canvass at Dufferin Station
Saturday, 12:00 NOON - 1:30 PM - Northwest corner of Dufferin and Bloor
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

June 11
SCARBOROUGH, Centennial College -- Fairness for contract faculty info session
Tuesday, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM - School of Business Boardroom, Progress Campus
Click here to RSVP

June 16
TORONTO, Migrant Rights Network Day of Action to #UniteAgainstRacism
Sunday, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Grange Park
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

[1] Read the Toronto Star story here.

When employers face no consequences for breaking the law, they simply keep violating workers’ rights. This is why the enforcement of our rights is so critical, and we need YOU to take urgent action to ensure access to justice for all: click here to email Premier Ford to call for legal aid cuts to be reversed.

After taking away our rights at work, Premier Ford is now trying to limit our ability to take legal action against bad bosses. His government’s recently announced 30% cut to legal aid and cancellation of funding for immigration and refugee law services is an assault on the poorest members of our communities. Here’s what these cuts could mean for workers in Ontario:

• Low-wage workers who experience thousands of dollars in wage theft won’t be able to get support from local community legal clinics to file claims with the Ministry of Labour;
• A migrant care worker who bravely left her abusive employer won’t be able to access legal aid to secure her immigration status long enough to press charges against her employer;
• A refugee who faces death or torture if deported would not be able to access legal aid to appeal their case, or get information in their first language about their legal rights.

Decisions on how legal aid cuts are going to be implemented will be made this week. Help us send a strong message right now to defend the community legal clinics we rely on.

Click here to send a letter to stop these cuts from coming into effect.

The reality is workers, tenants, immigrants, refugees, and people with low-incomes turn to legal clinics when their rights are violated. But Ford’s cuts will put these very legal clinics at risk and the people who are already marginalized will be hit the hardest.

Please send your message now to stop legal aid cuts and ensure no legal clinic in Ontario has to close its doors. With the click of a button, you can send our pre-drafted email to Premier Doug Ford, Attorney General Caroline Mulroney, and have all the Legal Aid Ontario Board of Directors copied.

Friend, thank you for speaking out! After sending your email, please help us spread the word by sharing this email with your friends.

Between the Ford government’s relentless attacks on public services, global rise in hate crimes and environmental catastrophes, it can become easy to forget the strength of our collective power. But, that would be a mistake.

From the right to vote, to access to universal health care to a $14 minimum wage, the hard-fought gains we benefit from today are all thanks to people who organized against the odds. In fact, many exciting organizing initiatives are happening right now that we want you to know about:

• Bike and food couriers organize for $15 & Fairness
  Learn more, visit: www.foodstersunited.ca -- This morning couriers working for Foodora, the international app-giant for food delivery, announced they will fight to unionize and win $15 & Fairness. Because Foodora misclassifies them as “independent contractors”, these workers currently don’t have access to even the most basic labour protections such as sick days or employment insurance. If these workers are successful, it will be a breakthrough in organizing for workers in the “gig economy” and a huge step forward in the fight for decent work. Let’s do everything we can to make sure they win. Email Foodora right now at [email protected] to speak out for these workers (and don't forget to cc campaign organizers at [email protected]). 

 Spread the word on Facebook (click here) to show couriers some love!
Follow the Justice for Couriers Campaign: on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

• #UniteAgainstRacism so no worker is left behind
  Learn more, visit: https://migrantrights.ca/may1 -- Governments are the ones who are responsible for cutting public services and legislating poverty-level wages to please corporate lobbyists, NOT migrants or refugees. Join us in rejecting the divide between migrant, immigrant, undocumented people and citizens, and assert that we are all workers. Together, we must insist that no worker be left behind. Today, find a local event for International Workers Day, and show up with this placard. Then take a photo of yourself with it & share on social media with #UniteAgainstRacism.
  
  
• Legal Aid Ontario lawyers organize to stop the cuts
  Visit www.stoplegalaidcuts.ca/ to email your MPP now -- The Ford government’s $30 million cut to legal aid is an assault on the poorest members of our communities. The hardest hit will be Ontario’s most vulnerable people, including women fleeing domestic violence, refugees fleeing life-threatening persecution, and innocent people facing prison because they can’t afford a lawyer. Access to justice should be a right for ALL!

Today, on International Workers’ Day, we want you, to double-down on your commitment to help build workers’ collective power. Scroll below to find an action near you!

May 1
TORONTO, We Love Workers at UofT! #MayDay
Wednesday, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM - Sidney Smith Hall, University of Toronto
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

MISSISSAUGA, TAWC - 2019 YYZ May Day Street Festival
Wednesday, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM - Pearson Airport, Terminal 1 Departures 
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

HAMILTON, International Workers' Day March
Wednesday, 3:30 PM - 9:00 PM - Gore Park
Click here to share on Facebook

BRACEBRIDGE, No Workers Left Behind Rally
Wednesday, 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM - MPP Norm Millers Bracebridge Office (165 Manitoba St)
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

TORONTO, Toronto May 1 International Workers' Day Rally
Wednesday, 5:00 PM - Nathan Philips Square
Click here to share on Facebook

NORTH BAY, $15 And Fairness Strategy Meeting
Wednesday, 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM - UNIFOR 103 Office (107 Sherriff Ave, Suite 102B)
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

OTTAWA, Workers Cabaret: Resistance Is Beautiful
Wednesday, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM - Arts Court
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

May 2
SCARBOROUGH, Scarborough Decent Work Outreach
Thursday, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM - McDonalds by Kingston Rd and Lawrence Ave
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

May 4
ETOBICOKE, Etobicoke-Lakeshore $15 and Fairness Outreach
Saturday, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM - The Sydney Grind (2883 Lakeshore Blvd W)
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

May 5
MISSISSAUGA, Malton Nagar Kirtan Parade Outreach
Sunday, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Sri Guru Singh Sabha (7280 Airport Rd)
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

May 7
TORONTO, Toronto-Wide Organizing Meeting
Tuesday, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM - 720 Spadina Ave Unit223
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

May 8
TORONTO, Tea and Data-Entry Party
Wednesday, 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM - 720 Spadina Ave Unit 223
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

May 11
TORONTO, West Toronto outreach at Spring Into Parkdale
Saturday, 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM - Roncesvalles Ave and Queen St W
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

May 13
KINGSTON, Kingston Organizing Meeting
Monday, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM - Coffee Way Donuts
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

Premier Doug Ford made his priorities crystal clear last week by releasing his very first provincial budget. Suffice to say, working people or our families are NOT of concern to the Premier.

SPEAK UP NOW!
Click here to find an action near you.

From education to environment, health care to social services, cuts to public services are coming. We know cuts will be devastating both for the quality of the services our communities rely on, and the working conditions of the people who deliver them. The budget hits people on social assistance, Indigenous peoples, migrants and refugees the hardest, with these specific cuts alone adding up to billions.

Forcing our communities into deeper poverty to boost corporate profits is inexcusable. Ford's budget prioritizes $3.8 billion in savings for corporations. Meanwhile, $11 million in funding is cut from the Ministry of Labour further weakening the enforcement of our rights on the job. It was bad enough that the Ministry was ordered to stop using proactive inspections back in September, but now they will start relying on employer self-regulation. Bad bosses will no doubt see this as an open invitation to continue violating workers' rights. 

Over and over again, Doug Ford is proving that he is for corporations, not the people. Earlier in April his government's own Financial Accountability Office confirmed what we had said all along. Had the $15 minimum wage kicked in on January 1st 2019 as scheduled, 1.3 million Ontarians each would have received a $810 boost (after-tax). But, under Ford’s so called low-income tax credit, 62% of minimum wage earners get nothing while those who are eligible get only about a $400 tax-credit

With wages frozen, rights under attack and services being cut, people are outraged in all corners of the province. Now is the time to take action!

• Ontario Federation of Labour is organizing a provincial Day of Action tomorrow (Wednesday, April 17) to protest Doug Ford's budget: click here to find events in Toronto, click here to find events across Ontario.
• Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition (ISARC) has committed to holding local town halls to amplify the voices of Ontarians who are living on the margins, the first is scheduled to take place in Kingston on April 23rd (see details below, or click here to learn more about this initiative).

Please take a look at upcoming events and join one near you. We cannot ever forget that WE are the majority, and united we will win decent work for ALL.

Wednesday, April 17th
ONTARIO-WIDE: Power of Many Day of Action
Wednesday, All day | Across Ontario
Ford's 2019 budget means more cuts to programs and public services that working people depend on. Join the Ontario Federation of Labour to help spread the word about what is at stake in this budget and how we can all take action. Actions are happening in Toronto, Peel, Guelph, London, Waterloo, North Bay, Ottawa, Kingston, Durham, Chatham, Stratford, Sault Ste. Marie, Cornwall, and Thunder Bay. Click here to find events in Toronto, click here to find events across Ontario.

BRAMPTON, Brampton Outreach
Wednesday, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM | Brampton Downtown Terminal
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

BRACEBRIDGE, Decent Work Coffee Meet up
Wednesday, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Oliver's Coffee Corporation
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

Monday, April 22nd
KINGSTON, Decent Work Discussions: How Tenants Fight Back!
Monday, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM | The Grad Club
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

Tuesday, April 23rd
KINGSTON, Voices from the Margins Town Hall
Tuesday, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM |St. Vincent de Paul, 85 Stephen St
Many people in Ontario are hurt by the rollback of our scheduled $15 minimum wage, cuts to services, and inadequate social assistance programs. Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition is organizing a series of town halls to collect and amplify these stories. If you are interested in sharing your experiences, please consider attending the event. Email [email protected] to RSVP.

TORONTO, Toronto-wide Organizing Meeting
Tuesday, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM | 720 Spadina Ave Unit 223
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

Thursday, April 25th
SCARBOROUGH, Know Your Rights: Employment Standards Workshop
Thursday, 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM | ACCES Employment
Click here to RSVP

Saturday, April 27th
TORONTO, West Toronto Canvass at Dufferin Station
Saturday, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM | Dufferin TTC Station
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

Sunday, April 28th
BRAMPTON, Brampton Organizing Meeting
Sunday, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Knightsbridge Senior Citizens Centre
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

SAULT STE MARIE, Decent Work Coffee Meetup
Sunday, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Shabby Motley Handcraft
To RSVP and share on Facebook

Tuesday, April 30th
TORONTO, Rally to Protect Public Healthcare
Tuesday, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Queens Park
To RSVP and share on Facebook

Wednesday, May 1st
ONTARIO-WIDE, #UniteAgainsRacism - No Worker Left Behind!
Politicians want us to blame migrants and refugees instead of realizing that it’s the super rich who are responsible for low wages and underfunded services. We will not be fooled! On May 1st, find a local event for International Workers Day, and show up with this placard. Then take a photo of yourself with it and share it on social media with #UniteAgainstRacism. Learn more, visit: https://migrantrights.ca/may1

MISSISSAUGA, Toronto Airport May Day Street Festival
Wednesday, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Toronto Pearson International Airport
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

OTTAWA, Workers Cabaret: Resistance Is Beautiful
Wednesday, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Arts Court
Click here to RSVP or to share on Facebook

Sunday, May 5th
MISSISSAUGA, Malton Nagar Kirtan Parade Outreach
Sunday, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Sri Guru Singh Sabha
Click here to RSVP

Saturday, May 11th
TORONTO,  West Toronto Outreach at Spring into Parkdale
Saturday, 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM | Roncesvalles and Queen Intersection
Click here to RSVP or share on Facebook

Toronto, April 2, 2019 -- “The passage of Bill 66 today means only one thing: Premier Ford has forgotten that he was elected to serve the people of Ontario, not CEOs,” says Pam Frache, Coordinator of the Ontario-wide Fight for $15 & Fairness Campaign.  “This legislation has clearly been designed to allow corporations to save money at the expense of workers, our health, and the environment. It should never have been introduced in the first place.”

 “In communities like mine, many people already struggle because of poverty wages, unstable hours, and contract jobs with no benefits. Yet the Ford government is giving employers unrestrained powers to force us work more hours while paying less in overtime,” says Navi Aujla, Organizer with the Brampton chapter of Fight for $15 & Fairness. “Without Ministry of Labour oversight, this just opens the door for more employer abuse.”

Bill 66, which passed third reading today, will:
- Cancel protections against excessive hours of work & unpaid overtime, 
- Make it harder for workers to learn about their rights on the job, 
- End collective bargaining agreements for many construction workers in the public sector, 
- Put children's lives at risk and jeopardize early childhood educator jobs, 
- Lead to more pollution in Ontario by cancelling protections against toxic chemicals in our workplaces, and much more.

“Ontarians are outraged at Premier Ford, who once again chose corporations over people,” says Pam Frache. “In November 2019, the Ford government cancelled the $15 minimum wage, just 6 weeks before it was scheduled to come into effect, delaying it at least until 2025 despite massive public opposition. On top of this, Ford’s so-called tax break for low-income workers leaves them $400 worse off than if the minimum wage had increased to $15 this past January,” adds Frache, referencing the findings published today by the Financial Accountability Office.

“First his government scrapped the much needed labour law reforms to satisfy demands coming from Big Business. Then they paused the Pay Transparency Act because corporations think paying women fairly costs too much, even if it means families have to make do with less income thanks to pay discrimination. Now, Ford has rammed through Bill 66,” says Frache.

“If an employer can make a single worker put in a 70-hour week under Bill 66 and do the job of two people at no extra cost, why would any employer ever hire more staff?” asks Navi Aujla. “The answer is they wouldn’t. And that is on Premier Ford.”

The Fight for $15 and Fairness is a growing movement of workers committed to fighting for decent work, and includes anti-poverty activists, health providers, labour groups, students, faculty, and faith leaders. 
To learn more, visit: www.15andFairness.org.

-30
For more information and to arrange interviews: 
Nil Sendil, Communications Coordinator, Fight for $15 and Fairness
[email protected] l 647-710-5795

Premier Doug Ford has zero mandate to make the people of Ontario work more while getting paid less. But that is exactly what his government will do to save costs for corporate executives at the expense of workers, our health and the environment.

All signs indicate that the Ford government will use its majority inside Queen's Park to pass the dangerous Bill 66 next week. This legislation will:

   - Remove protections against excessive hours of work & unpaid overtime [1]
   - Make it harder for workers to learn about their rights on the job [2]
   - End collective bargaining agreements for many construction workers in the public sector [3]
   - Put children's lives at risk and jeopardize early childhood educator jobs [4]
   - Lead to more pollution in Ontario by cancelling protections against toxic chemicals in our workplaces [5] and much more.

The reality is NO ONE signed up for such drastic changes that put communities at risk. This is why the only place Ford government enjoys a majority is inside the legislature. On the streets, in our workplaces and campuses, we have the power of many.

New community organizing tool: Download the petition

Over two-thirds of Ontarians support a $15 minimum wage now. Nearly 80% support paid sick days, including 64% of Conservative voters. Clearly, the vast majority of people in Ontario support our agenda for decent work and wages. We need your help to organize this sentiment!

Click here to download our new petition.

You can use the new $15 & Fairness petition to invite friends, neighbours and co-workers to join this growing decent work movement. Once completed with signatures and contact info, take a photo of the petition and send it to us at [email protected]. Alternatively, you can also ask your friends to sign the online petition (click here) by forwarding this email to them.

Join an event, get involved in your community:

From Ottawa to Brampton, Hamilton to Sault Ste Marie, local events are bringing $15 & Fairness supporters together to defend our rights against bad bosses, and hold this government to account. Check out the event listing below, and join us to learn more about how you can get involved. For the latest listing of events, visit: www.15andfairness.org/events

March 30
GUELPH, Activists' Workshop to learn skills for community organizing
Saturday, 10:00 AM to 2:45 PM - St. Andrews Church, 161 Norfolk St
Click here to sign up & share on Facebook

April 1
OTTAWA, Ottawa Organizing Meeting
Monday, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM - 251 Bank St, 2nd Floor
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

HAMILTON, Door Knocking in Hamilton
Monday, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM - 60 Ventura Drive
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

April 2
KINGSTON, Kingston Power of Many: Regional Activation Meeting
Tuesday, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM - OPSEU Hall, 824 John Counter Blvd
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

OTTAWA, Ottawa Power of Many: Regional Activation Meeting
Tuesday, 6:00PM - 8:30 PM - Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave W
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

April 3
SAULT STE. MARIE, Sault Ste. Marie Power of Many: Regional Activation Meeting
Wednesday, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM - OPSEU Regional Office, 154 Great Northern Rd
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

April 6
TORONTO, $15 and Fairness joins the Rally for Education
Saturday, 11:30 AM - 2:0 PM - Northwest corner of University and College
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

April 9
TORONTO, Toronto Wide Organizing Meeting
Tuesday, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM - 720 Spadina Ave Unit 223
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

April 13
ETOBICOKE, Etobicoke-Lakeshore $15 and Fairness Outreach
Saturday, 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM - The Sydney Grind, 2883 Lakeshore Blvd W
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

TORONTO, A Green New Deal for All
Saturday, 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM - Steelworkers Toronto Area Council, 25 Cecil St
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

April 17
BRAMPTON, Brampton Outreach
Wednesday, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM - Brampton Downtown Terminal, 8 Nelson St W
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

April 23
TORONTO, Toronto Wide Organizing Meeting
Tuesday, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM - 720 Spadina Ave Unit 223
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

April 28
BRAMPTON, Brampton Organizing Meeting
Sunday, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM - Knightsbridge Senior Citizens Centre, 1A Knightsbridge Rd
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

May 1
TORONTO, Toronto Airport May Day Street Festival
Wednesday, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM - Terminal 1, Pearson Airport
Click here to RSVP and to share on Facebook

Sources on Bill 66:
[1] Toronto Star op-ed by labour lawyer Josh Mandryk
[2] CityNews clip 
[3] Carpenters' District Council of Ontario statement on Bill 66
[4] Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care deputation on Bill 66
[5] Huffington Post article

We woke up to immense grief today.

49 Muslims were murdered in a mosque in New Zealand during prayer, and the death toll is rising. Before his murderous rampage, the shooter published an anti-immigrant manifesto. He praised US president Donald Trump as 'a symbol of renewed white identity' and wrote the name of the Quebec City mosque gunman on an assault-rifle, posting the image on social media. 

We know that Canada is not immune.

Police reported hate crimes went up 47% in 2017 [1]. At least 300 known white supremacist organizations are currently active across the country [2]. Over 70% of the migrants in Canada are denied full access to basic labour or social rights because of unfair temporary permits [3]. Women of colour continue to earn far less than white men [4]. Black and Indigenous communities are unfairly targeted by police and imprisonment [5,6]. Meanwhile, anti-immigrant populist messaging by federal political parties increased dramatically during the recent by-elections [7,8].

But, we refuse to be divided.

That’s why, from Halifax to Vancouver, communities across Canada are coming together to #UniteAgainstRacism. Actions are taking place between March 17th and 24th. 

Will you join us in taking action at this critical time? Go to http://migrantrights.ca/en/march21/ to find the event closest to you (or scroll below to see Ontario actions). 

The reality is, many in our communities are struggling. Too many of us are facing job losses, low wages, and cuts to services. 

Meanwhile the Ford government is forcing an austerity agenda upon us, as corporate profits go untaxed, and bad bosses get rewarded with lax labour laws and reduced fines when they break the law.

Let there be no doubt, in our communities, we are united in our desire for decent work. We are united in our concern for our children's future, the rising cost of living, and retirement.

But those at the top want to divide us. They want us fighting for scraps, and blaming migrants, people of colour, and others so we are too distracted to demand the fundamental changes our communities need. 

Spread the word: Share on Facebook -- Share on Twitter

Those of us fighting for $15 and fairness believe that uniting against racism right now is the only way forward. This is why we will be mobilizing together with the Migrant Rights Network to counter racist and anti-immigrant rhetoric. Join us! Find an action near you at http://migrantrights.ca/en/march21/. You can participate even if you can’t attend. On March 21, 2019 post a selfie on social media with #UniteAgainstRacism, and tell your friends why you will be opposing all forms of xenophobia this year.

*** More actions are being announced, please click here for the latest listing of #UniteAgainstRacism events ***

Sunday, March 17

HAMILTON
11am, United Steelworker Centre
RSVP | Facebook

NIAGARA
2pm, 1665 Four Mile Creek Rd
RSVP | Facebook

Wednesday, March 20

PETERBOROUGH
6pm, Confederation Park
RSVP | Facebook

Thursday, March 21

TORONTO
5:30pm, Nathan Phillips Square
RSVP | Facebook

Sunday, March 24

OTTAWA
2pm, 166 Frank Street
RSVP

---------------------------------

Source [1] Globe and Mail
Source [2] Toronto Star
Source [3] Government of Canada, Immigration Data
Source [4] Maclean's 
Source [5] Globe and Mail
Source [6] The Conversation
Source [7] Burnaby Now
Source [8] Toronto Star

While marking today’s International Women’s Day, we are thankful for your ongoing support to close the equity gap in workplaces.

As recent data show, on average, women in Ontario earn 70 cents for every dollar a man makes. Newcomer women earn 66 cents, and women of color earn 62 cents. Meanwhile Indigenous women earn a mere 57 cents, for every dollar earned by their white, male counterparts. This is simply unacceptable.

Take action!
Scroll below to see upcoming local events

Shamefully, instead of trying to close this outrageous gap, the Ford government has turned to its corporate friends to come up with excuses to scrap the very legislation (named the Pay Transparency Act) that was brought in last year to address this kind of gross inequality in the workplace. Click here to read the Huffington Post story to learn more.

The truth is, Labour Minister Laurie Scott’s “public consultation”, favours Big Business voices, while closing the door on input from workers and women. As the Toronto Star editorial notes, this review is not asking women: “How does earning 30 per cent less than a man impact your ability to pay bills, educate your children, pay for housing and retire?” Yet the government is eager to find out how to save a few more dollars for corporations, at our expense.

Women and racialized workers are over represented in minimum wage work. Years of academic research show that a $15 minimum wage would lift workers out of poverty, and strengthen the economy. But because of Premier Ford, we won’t see a $15 minimum wage until at least 2025. And although the evidence shows that the right to equal pay for equal work could curb the rise in precarious employment, the Conservative government also cancelled this. Now they are going after the Pay Transparency Act.

It goes without saying that women and men both stand to gain when women are paid fairly. Equal pay would increase resources available for households, for parenting, for elder care, and would boost local businesses as women experience greater disposable income.

This is just one more reason why we keep fighting for $15 and Fairness. Today, on the International Women’s Day, join us in redoubling our efforts to make workplaces fairer for ALL workers.  Please make every effort to come out to an event near you (scroll below), and if you can please donate to sustain the fight for equity (click here) – every bit helps, no amount is too large or too small.

Saturday, March 9th
TORONTO, Marching at IWD: In solidarity with Migrant Care Workers
Saturday, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM | OISE, University of Toronto
In Toronto, this year we are marching in solidarity with migrant care workers who recently won an incredible victory, which will give workers more flexibility to change employers when facing violations of rights. Come out and march with us. If you cannot attend in person, lend your support by signing this important petition.
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

Sunday, March 10th 
BRAMPTON, Brampton Organizing Meeting
Sunday, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Knightsbridge Seniors Club
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

Monday, March 11th
KINGSTON, Kingston Strategy Meeting
Monday, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM | Rober Sutherland Hall, Queens University 
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

Tuesday, March 12th
TORONTO, Toronto Wide Organizing Meeting
Tuesday, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM | 720 Spadina Ave
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

OTTAWA, Ottawa Organizing Meeting
Tuesday, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM | 251 Bank Street, 2nd floor
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

Wednesday, March 13th
TORONTO, Willowdale wants $15 and Fairness
Wednesday, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Sheppard-Yonge TTC station.
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

BRAMPTON, Brampton Workers Say NO to Bill 66!
Wednesday, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Main Street/ Bovaird Drive
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

Thursday, March 14th
TORONTO, Bill 66 is bad for health. Tell Ford to share the wealth!
Thursday, 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM | Queens Park Station
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

Friday, March 15th
SCARBOROUGH, Scarborough-Centre: Bill 66 is Bad for Workers!
Friday, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Warden Ave & Lawrence Ave E 
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

SCARBOROUGH, Scarbrough-Rouge Park: Bill 66 is Bad for Workers!
Friday, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Morningside Ave & Sheppard Ave E
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

TORONTO, Rally for Our Future! Climate Strike for Good Jobs
Friday, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM | York University Student Centre
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

BARRIE, Community Outreach and Education
Friday, 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM | Meridian Place Barrie
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

Sunday, March 17th
NIAGARA, Niagara #UniteAgainstRacism
Sunday, 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM |1665 Four Mile Creek Rd
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

Tuesday, March 19th
OSHAWA, Durham Power of Many: Regional Activation Meeting
Tuesday, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM | IBEW Hall
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

Wednesday, March 20th
KITCHENER, Waterloo Region Power of Many: Regional Activation Meeting
Wednesday, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM | ETFO Waterloo 
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

Thursday, March 21st
TORONTO, Toronto: #UniteAgainstRacism
Thursday, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Nathan Philips Square
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

Monday, March 25th
TORONTO, Power of Many: Take Back Ontario Conference
Monday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM | Metro Toronto Convention
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

Wednesday, April 3rd 
SAULT STE MARIE, Sault Ste. Marie Power of Many: Regional Activation Meeting
Wednesday, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM | OPSEU Regional Office
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

Sunday, April 28th 
BRAMPTON, Brampton Organizing Meeting
Sunday, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Knightsbridge Senior Citizens Centre
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

Migrant care workers have just won an incredible victory, reminding us all how powerful we can be when we raise our voices collectively.

In direct response to years of grassroots organizing, the federal government announced a new pilot program this weekend, which will, for the first time, allow care workers to have a sector specific work permit which give workers more flexibility to change employers when facing violations of rights. This means that abusive employers will have a harder time taking advantage of care workers, because these workers won't have to risk deportation to get away from a bad situation. In addition, care workers will now be able to bring their families with them to Canada. Click here to read more.

This is an important step forward in the struggle for workers’ rights, women’s rights and racial justice. There is no doubt that our fight to win $15 & Fairness for ALL workers continues – that means pushing for permanent residency status upon arrival and getting rid of exemptions that exclude migrant workers from basic employment rights. 

Provincially, it is clear Premier Doug Ford is not interested in making life better for workers in Ontario. Why else would he lower fines for employers who break the law, and take away 2 meagre paid sick days a year from millions of workers?

Right now, Ford is forging ahead with Bill 66 which will cancel protections against unpaid overtime and excessive hours of work -- leading to more precarious jobs. (Click here to speak against Bill 66). Because of this government's attacks on the basic rights and services our communities rely on, many of us are hurting.

From minimum wage earners to the parents of children with autism, and from post-secondary students, staff, and faculty to early childhood educators, everybody is forced to make sacrifices EXCEPT corporate executives who profit from poverty wages while failing to pay their fair share of taxes. We will not tolerate this.

By organizing in every neighbourhood, workplace, and campus and by raising our voices in local media (see an example from Parry-Sound Muskoka by clicking here), we will hold this government to account. The Ford government may have a majority of seats inside the Ontario Legislature, but we are the majority on the streets -- and resistance is growing!

There are several events coming up across Ontario (scroll below), please make every effort to join us in person to take action.

February 27
TORONTO, UofT $15 & Fairness says NO to Bill 66!
Wednesday, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM | Sid Smith Hall, University of Toronto St George
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

KITCHENER, Waterloo Region Power of Many: Activation Meeting
Wednesday, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM | ETFO Waterloo
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

February 28
NORTH BAY, North Bay Power of Many: Regional Activation Meeting
Thursday, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM | OPSEU Region 6 Union Hall
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

March 4
KINGSTON, Kingston Workplace Rights Survey Outreach
Monday, 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM | Cataraqui Centre Transit Stop
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

HAMILTON, Hamilton Power of Many: Regional Activation Meeting
Monday, 7:15 PM - 9:00 PM | Carpenters Union Local 18
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

March 7
TORONTO, Fighting for Labour Rights: A Public Health Issue
Thursday, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Dalla Lana School of Public Health
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

March 9
TORONTO, International Women's Day Toronto Rally and March
Saturday, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM (RALLY), March starts at 1:00 PM | Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
This year we will be marching with care workers! Save the date and see you there!
Click here to RSVP and share on Facebook

March 10
BRAMPTON, Brampton Organizing Meeting
Sunday, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Knightsbridge Community and Senior Citizens Centre
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

March 11
KINGSTON, Kingston Strategy Meeting
Monday, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Rober Sutherland Hall, Queens University
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

March 12
TORONTO, Toronto Wide Organizing Meeting
Tuesday, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM | 720 Spadina Avenue
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

March 13
BRAMPTON, Rally: Brampton Workers Say No to Bill 66
Wednesday, 5:00 PM -  6:00 PM | Main Street/ Bovaird Drive Intersection 
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

March 19
OSHAWA, Durham Power of Many: Regional Activation Meeting
Tuesday, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM | IBEW Hall
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

March 21
TORONTO, Toronto Rally: #UniteAgainstRacism
Thursday, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Nathan Philips Square 
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

March 25
TORONTO, Power of Many: Take Back Ontario Conference
Monday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM | Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

April 3 
SAULT STE MARIE, Sault Ste. Marie Power of Many: Regional Activation Meeting
Wednesday, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM | OPSEU Regional Office
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

Following wide-spread reaction from environmental and community groups across Ontario, the provincial government announced last month that it would no longer proceed with Section 10 of Bill 66, which would have opened the door to the destruction of the Greenbelt.

Through protests, op-eds in local newspapers, calls and visits to Members of Provincial Parliament, the People of Ontario showed the Ford government that attacks on environmental protection will not be tolerated. We need your help to build on this momentum to get Bill 66 withdrawn in its entirety. Click here to take a quick action on Bill 66.

Workers' rights are under attack

Unfortunately Bill 66 still contains components that would harm our communities. For example, Bill 66 proposes to repeal the Toxics Reduction Act 2009 (TRA), a law that requires certain industrial facilities to consider ways to reduce the use and emissions of toxic chemicals in their operations. Repealing this act will impact workers' ability to learn about hazardous chemicals in the workplace and -- by extension -- in our communities. 

Bill 66 would also make it harder for workers to refuse excessive hours of work or receive overtime pay. Moreover, if adopted, this dangerous law would reduce workers’ access to stable pension plans; reduce child care spaces, weaken the rules that ensure child care workers are present in adequate numbers to care for our children and be properly trained; make it harder for trades and labourers in the public sector to get the protection of a union agreement; and more. 

At the same time, the government is also weakening the enforcement of existing law. After reducing fines for law breaking employers with Bill 47 last fall, Ford government has now stopped conducting proactive inspections through the Ministry of Labour. Without enforcement, our rights are merely words on paper. Click here to email Premier Ford right now.

Keep fighting for $15 & Fairness

Despite these attacks on our rights, the most recent Ontario job numbers prove what we have been saying all along. Decent work is not only good for our communities but also makes for a stronger economy. After all, when workers have money in their pockets, they spend it.

Contrary to the doomsday predictions of corporate lobbyists, Ontario's economy added nearly 80,000 jobs last year, mostly due to an increase in full-time work! (Click here to read the RankandFile.ca article that breaks down these numbers) These improvements occurred after the minimum wage increased from $11.60 to $14, and measures like paid sick days and equal pay for equal work came into effect. 

Clearly, the economic evidence and public opinion support better wages and working conditions. Now it is our job to organize the majority in Ontario who want and need decent work. Join us at an upcoming event in your community to win $15 & Fairness for ALL!

February 7th
NORTH YORK, Willowdale Outreach Blitz
Thursday, 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM | Don Mills TTC Station
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

TORONTO, Workers' Rights Workshop: Building Power at UofT
Thursday, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM | Workers Action Centre
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

February 9th
SCARBOROUGH, Scarborough Town Centre Outreach
Saturday, 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM | Scarborough Town Centre
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

ETOBICOKE, Etobicoke Outreach Blitz
Saturday, 1:00 PM to 2:00PM | Kipling TTC station
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

February 11th
HAMILTON, Hamilton Organizing Meeting
Monday, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM | ATU 107 Hall 
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

February 12th
TORONTO, Health Care for Migrants: National Day of Action 
Tuesday, 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM | Immigration and Refugee Board
Click here to share on Facebook

TORONTO, Data Entry Pizza Party
Tuesday, 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM | Workers Action Centre
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

TORONTO, Toronto-wide Organizing Meeting
Tuesday, 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM | Workers Action Centre
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

February 14th
TORONTO, 14th Annual February 14th Strawberry Ceremony for mmiwg2s
Thursday, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM | Toronto Police Headquarters
Click here to share on Facebook

February 16th
OTTAWA, What could a Green New Deal look like in Canada?
Saturday, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM | University of Ottawa 
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

February 17th
BRAMPTON, Local $15 and Fairness Meeting
Sunday, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Knightsbridge Community and Senior Citizens Centre (1A Knightsbridge Rd)
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

March 21st
CROSS CANADA, International Day for the Elimination of Racism
Mark this important day in your calendar, and stay tuned for details about a local action happening near you. We are encouraging our networks to help centre migrant workers’ issues on that day. For more information, visit: migrantrights.ca.

Communities across Ontario are furious! 2019 has already been made harder, not easier, for millions of workers because Premier Doug Ford rolled back our hard-won $15 minimum wage, cancelled paid sick days and even reversed the law that made it mandatory to pay part-time, contract, casual and temporary workers the same as their full-time counterparts.

Pushing workers in low-wage, precarious employment further into poverty is unacceptable -- and we need to make it our job to let everyone know what the Conservatives have done. That’s why we’ve produced a set of posters (and leaflets) to name and shame the Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) who took away our rights. To find a customized poster (11x17, tabloid size) for your MPP, click here. To find a matching set of leaflets (2UP layout on letter size), click here. Help us share these resources by posting or distributing them in your neighbourhood.

If you don’t live in a riding where the MPP helped roll back our rights,
please feel free to use the Doug Ford poster and leaflet.

Danger ahead: Bill 66

Right now it's crucial that we keep organizing because new attacks on workers and our communities are on the way. Not content with rolling back so many of our workplace rights, the Ford government quietly tabled Bill 66, the Restoring Ontario's Competitiveness Act, late December. If adopted, Bill 66 would: weaken environmental protections; reduce workers’ access to stable pension plans; reduce child care spaces, weaken the rules that ensure child care workers are present in adequate numbers to care for our children and get properly trained; make it harder for trades and labourers in the public sector to get the protection of a union agreement; and more.

Shockingly, not only would Bill 66 remove the employer obligation to display a simple poster in the workplace about workers’ rights, it would also remove the long-standing Ministry of Labour protections for workers against excessive hours of work and unpaid overtime.

Fortunately, workers are not going to put up with this.

Make your voice heard!

Premier Doug Ford needs to be reminded that while he may have the majority of seats inside Queen's Park, WE are the majority in Ontario. Please click here to email Ford right now (your local MPP will be copied too). Let's demand that he immediately withdraw Bill 66 and stop the attacks on our jobs, our services, and our legal protections. 

Until February 19, Ontario Legislative Assembly happens to be on recess. This means our provincial representatives are in their home ridings, attending to constituency matters. Fair labour laws save lives, but Bill 66 does the opposite. No matter which political party your MPP belongs to, please make sure to visit or call them to deliver this important message.

Help organize your community

We're only 3 weeks into 2019 but multiple $15 and Fairness organizing meetings have already taken place in Ottawa, Kingston, Barrie and Toronto. Last Saturday, the women’s march was on fire across Ontario, even though the day was incredibly cold. There is a real appetite in all corners of the province to hold elected officials to account. Help us organize to win decent work for ALL.

Click here to download our new sign-up sheet where you can read more about our big vision for decent work. If you have friends or co-workers who want to get involved, have them add their names and contact information, then email the sheet to us. You can also get your union, group, or network to join $15 & Fairness by visiting: www.15andfairness.org/sign_up 

Upcoming Events

Please scroll below to see upcoming events. If you don't see one in your community, and are interested in hosting a meeting or a Know Your Right Workshop, email us at [email protected] so we can help you get started.

January 25
BARRIE, Community Education and Outreach
Friday, 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM - Meridian Place, Barrie, 6 Simcoe Street
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

January 26
TORONTO, West Toronto Canvass
Saturday, 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM - Outside Dufferin Station, North West corner of Dufferin/Bloor
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

January 29
TORONTO, City-wide Organizing Meeting
Tuesday, 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM - 720 Spadina Avenue, Unit 223
***Doors open at 5:30 PM, Meeting starts at 6:00 PM 
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

February 1 
TORONTO, Cuales son tus Derechos Labores apartir de Enero 2019
Friday, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM - 720 Spadina Avenue, Unit 223
** This Know Your Rights workshop will be in Spanish only.
For more information, click here.

February 9
ETOBICOKE, Etobicoke Lakeshore Outreach
Saturday, 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM - Outside the Kipling subway station
Click here to RSVP, Click here to share on Facebook

March 21
CROSS CANADA, International Day for the Elimination of Racism
Mark this important day in your calendar, and stay tuned for details about a local action happening near you. We are encouraging our networks to help centre migrant workers’ issues on that day. For more information, visit: migrantrights.ca.

By David Bush

A full year of big changes to labour law in Ontario has just passed. Newly released jobs numbers let us measure the impact of these changes, and gauge whether the nightmarish predictions of job losses and economic upheaval have come true.

Bill 148’s changes

Last January, Bill 148 ushered in a sweeping set of labour law reforms in the province. The legislation increased the minimum wage from $11.60 to $14 an hour, a 21% jump. This was the first phase of a two-phase increase to $15 an hour, which would have come into effect on January 1, 2019.

The legislation also gave every worker in the province access to ten job-protected Personal Emergency Leave (PEL) days, allowing an additional 1.6 million workers to use these days for emergencies such as sickness, family illness or bereavement. It mandated that the first two PEL days be paid while also barring employers from requiring a doctor’s’ note.

Ontario became the first Canadian province where all workers had access to paid sick days.

In April, Bill 148 implemented an equal-pay-for-equal-work provision, mandating that part-time, contract, casual, seasonal and temporary workers who do substantially the same work as their full-time coworkers be paid the same.

The legislation also brought in a number of rule changes that improved workers’ holiday pay and vacations, and made it easier to join and keep a union.

Big business predictions 

In the lead up to Bill 148 being passed, many in the big business community were warning that the changes it contained would lead to economic disaster and major job losses.

A study done in 2017 by the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis (commissioned by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce) claimed that 185,000 jobs would be lost over two years. A 2017 TD Bank study predicted that Bill 148 would result in 80,000 to 90,000 jobs lost. Even Ontario’s Financial Accountability Office predicted 50,000 jobs would be lost due to Bill 148.

In January 2018, Ontario lost 54,000 jobs and it seemed that the critics of Bill 148 were right. The media quickly picked up on this narrative in January and again in August, when Statistics Canada’s monthly labour force survey showed that Ontario lost 80,000 jobs. But StatsCan’s monthly survey is merely a snapshot of the economy, which is apt to fluctuate dramatically from month to month. Looking at the change in jobs numbers from year to year is a much clearer way to measure the impacts of labour law reforms.

Bill 148’s impact

So after 12 months of Bill 148, what happened to Ontario’s job market?

The province added roughly 78,000 jobs in the last year, a 1.1% increase. This exceeded the national average of employment growth, which increased by only 0.9%. Overall, Ontario’s unemployment rate finished the year at 5.4%, below last year’s unemployment rate of 5.5% and also below the national unemployment rate of 5.6%. Ontario now has the second lowest unemployment rate in the country.

While it’s true that Ontario’s job growth in 2018 slowed when compared to 2017 (1.1% compared to 2.5%) this slowdown was a trend across the country. Job growth across Canada decelerated from a 2.3% increase in 2017 to a 0.9% increase in 2018. Job growth in 2018 looked more like job growth trends in 2015 and 2016, rather than the outlier year of 2017, meaning that there is no merit to the argument that reforms in Bill 148 caused job loss or even less job creation.

All of the jobs added in Ontario were due to an increase in full-time work, meaning the total amount of wages going to Ontario’s workers increased this year.

And what kind of jobs are they? The service sector saw an increase in employment by 1.4%, led by increases in transportation and warehousing, business, building and other services and educational services. This means that the jobs that are being created are not simply in the public sector or in sectors unaffected by labour law changes, as some may assume. Instead, job growth has occurred in many of the very sectors that were directly impacted by Bill 148.

It is noteworthy that employment in the food service and accommodation sector rose by 0.8%, while total hours worked in that sector rose by 1.7% over the last year. This means that wages and conditions for workers in fast food restaurants, hotels and retail – which are often among the lowest – improved in 2018. The big business lobby argued vociferously that this sector in particular would be hard hit by the new labour law changes and see big job losses.

The real story 

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce stated this fall that “Bill 148 was too much, too fast. The compounding labour reforms and unintended consequences came at too high a cost to Ontario’s economy.”

But the reality is over the last 12 months in Ontario, employment, wages, and the total hours of work increased, while unemployment decreased. The big business predictions about Bill 148 turned out to be nothing more than baseless scaremongering.

Sadly, the reforms in Bill 148 were largely rolled back by the new government’s Bill 47, which came into effect on January 1, 2019. The province gutted the much needed reforms in Bill 148, despite the evidence that increasing the minimum wage and introducing paid sick days, equal-pay-for-equal work and rules that made it easier to join and keep and union actually led to increased employment.

We can take heart that making these reforms not only improved the lives of workers, but they did not have the disastrous consequences for Ontario’s economy that some predicted. Now we have to continue fighting to improve working conditions for all Ontario workers.

Read the full Rank and File story.

As of today (January 1, 2019), almost 900,000 federally-regulated workers across Canada will have the legislated right to three paid sick days; to equal pay for equal work for part-time, contract, and temporary workers; and to protections against contract flipping**.

There is no doubt that the Federal government took these modest, but important steps, towards legislating $15 & Fairness, after seeing the incredible levels of public support our decent work movement generated for these very rights in Ontario.

Fuel the fight to win $15 & Fairness for ALL!
Become a monthly donor (click here)

Thanks to you taking action, close to a million workers in sectors that cross provincial borders (such as banking, airlines, telecommunications, shipping, transportation, and more) will now benefit from improved working conditions. And furthermore, the federal government will also consider a $15 federal minimum wage by putting together a 10-month task force early this year.

However, as we saw last year with the Ford government's rollbacks of our provincial decent work laws, we can't take these federal victories for granted. This is why in 2019, we must fight even harder to assert every worker's right to $15 & Fairness.

In Ontario, this means holding the Conservative government to account for taking away our rights at work, cutting the services we rely on and weakening workers’ supports.

In the upcoming months, it's essential that we increase our public outreach efforts, to make sure every worker knows about – and benefits from – the improvements we were able to protect last year (click here to read them). Of course, we also need to continue organizing in every corner of the province, to deter the Ford government from further attacking our rights at work. 

To fuel this work, we have a bold request: Would you be willing to give us $15 every month during 2019? (Click here to become a monthly donor).

If just 1% of our supporters made this kind of commitment to the Fight for $15 and Fairness, we could train and mentor local campaign organizers in 5 new cities. A monthly donation of even $5 (the equivalent of a fancy cup of coffee) would make a world of difference, allowing us to distribute more educational resources about our rights at work and make them available in multiple languages. Of course, any one-off financial contribution is also much needed and no amount is too little or too large!

By far, however, the most important contribution you can make is your continued support and solidarity. We have come this far because supporters like you have given their time, energy, and commitment where it matters most: in your community, workplace, or campus.

Thank you for all you have contributed so far! We have much to do in the year ahead, but we are confident that 2019 will mark another year of progress in our fight for decent work for all.

**Protections against contract flipping will allow workers to retain their wages and job security if a service contract is re-signed with another provider.

As you know, the Ford government passed Bill 47 on November 21, 2018, despite overwhelming public opposition to the bill and by ignoring all evidence in support of stronger labour laws.

While Premier Ford rolled back significant improvements we had won last year with Bill 148, we succeeded in protecting many gains that will make a real difference in workers’ lives. This is thanks to you and thousands of others taking action!

Please read below to learn more about the reforms we've collectively protected by putting up resistance every step of the way:

1. $14 minimum wage
   Through grassroots organizing we raised Ontario’s adult general minimum wage to $14 (from $11.60). This accomplishment transfers $3.4 billion from corporate profit to workers’ pockets – each and every year.
   
   
2. Indexation
   Even though the minimum wage will be frozen again until October 1, 2020, we preserved future annual cost of living adjustments that will help prevent the minimum wage from falling further below the poverty line. This is an important win, considering the fact that each year that prices rise and wages don’t, workers experience a cut in their earning power.
   
   
3. Job-protected emergency leave for all
   Before the $15 & Fairness campaign, 1.7 million workers did not have job security if they had to leave a shift due to illness, family emergency or other unplanned urgent situation. At the time, existing job-protected emergency leave only applied to workplaces with 50 or more workers. As a result, workers in smaller workplaces found themselves facing job loss or discipline if they had to deal with an emergency.
   
   Although the Ford government has reduced the overall number of job-protected days and restricted their use with Bill 47, we have been able to defend the access to these emergency days by all workers – regardless of the size of their employer. This provides protection for nearly 2 million workers in smaller (and often more precarious) workplaces.
   
   
4. Misclassification still illegal under the law
   Misclassification is the term used to describe employers who wrongly classify their workers as independent contractors instead of employees. When this happens, workers lose their employment rights under the law and they also lose access to Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan, and more. Under Bill 148, misclassification became explicitly prohibited in Ontario.
   While Bill 47 puts the onus on the worker to prove misclassification, it still retains the prohibition under the Act.
   
   
5. Better protections for temporary agency workers:
   
   -  In 2013 we won better protection for temp agency workers when wages go unpaid.
   Both the temp agency and the client company are held responsible for any unpaid wages, overtime or public holiday pay. This important protection remains.
   
   -  Temp agency workers continue to be entitled to notice or pay in lieu of notice if a contract that was supposed to last at least three months is terminated early.
   We have retained this modest, but important penalty for employers who disregard the rights of temp agency workers.
   
   -  Joint responsibility for workplace health and safety.
   Prior to our campaign, corporations used temp agencies as a way to avoid their obligations under the workers' compensation and health and safety acts. In other words, because the temp agency is considered to be the official employer of temp agency workers, the client company was not legally or financially responsible for workplace accidents.
   
   In 2018, due to public pressure, the government finally moved to hold client companies (where temp agency employees actually work) legally and financially responsible for injury and accident costs and liability under workers’ compensation. This protects temp agency workers and removes an important financial incentive for employers to use agency workers in the first place. We’ve retained this change.
   
   
6. Limited protections against contract flipping
   We’ve kept the Bill 148 provision that protects workers when a building services contract expires and a new contract is awarded to a different service provider.
   
   This protection against contract flipping applies to cleaning, security, and food service contracts so that, in the event that an existing contract expires, the wage, working conditions and union protections previously in place are extended to the workers employed by the new service provider.
   
   
7. Three weeks paid vacation after 5 years
   We protected the right to an extra week of paid vacation, after five years with the same employer, which we had won with Bill 148.
   
   
8. Domestic violence leave
   Domestic or sexual violence leave is a job-protected leave of absence that we won with Bill 148 and maintained. It provides up to 10 days and 15 weeks in a calendar year of time off to be taken for specific purposes when an employee or an employee’s child has experienced or been threatened with domestic or sexual violence. The first five days of leave taken in a calendar year are paid, and the rest are unpaid.
   
   
9. A stronger, more united movement
   Our movement has fundamentally changed the conversation about workplace rights.
   77% of Ontarians support paid sick leave and a majority of Ontarians support equal pay for equal work, fairer scheduling rules and greater access to union protections. In fact, two-thirds of Ontarians – including over 60% of small business owners and 42% of Conservative voters – support a $15 minimum wage.
   
   When workers fight for these rights in the workplace now, they are going to have more public support. This lays the foundation for strong collective bargaining campaigns for unionized workers. It will also help non-unionized workers fight wrongful dismissal when employers try to roll back wage increases and paid sick days that are in place.

But perhaps our most important achievement is the exponential growth of our decent work movement across Ontario with roots in diverse communities, campuses, workplaces, and neighbourhoods.

By building on this momentum, there is no doubt we are going to be much better situated to make $15 and Fairness a reality for every worker in Ontario.

Please join us in the upcoming days to celebrate our collective hard work and stay organized to hold the Ford government to account for their betrayal to the people of Ontario.

See below for events happening next week, and visit our website regularly to see the latest listings.

Saturday, December 8th
TORONTO
A Celebration of Resistance
Saturday, 7:00PM - 10:00PM - ETFO Provincial Office, 136 Isabella St
Please RSVP or share on Facebook

Monday, December 10th
HAMILTON
Keep Fighting for $15: Beyond Bill 47 Organizing meeting
Monday, 6:00PM - 8:00PM - ATU Local 107, 1005 King St E
Please RSVP or share on Facebook

Monday, December 10th to 14th (Week of Action)

ONTARIO WIDE
Workers’ Comp is a Right! Provincial Week of Action
Actions all week across Ontario from Toronto to Thunder Bay
Please RSVP or share on Facebook

Tuesday, December 11th
OTTAWA
Holiday Social and Strategy Session
Tuesday, 6:30PM - 8:00PM - Fox and Feather Pub and Grill, 283 Elgin Street
Please RSVP or share on Facebook

Saturday, December 15th
BRAMPTON
Brampton Social: Celebration of Resistance
Saturday, 1:00PM - 3:00PM - Central PS Community Centre, 24 Alexander St
Please RSVP or share on Facebook

By Dina Al-Shibeeb

The organizer said the ‘biggest struggle’ when advocating for workers’ rights is that ‘generally people are unaware of their own rights’

Some of Premier Doug Ford's supporters were “shocked” by the Progressive Conservative Party’s bill to freeze the minimum wage at $14 and eliminate Ontarians’ two paid sick leaves, says the organizer of York Region’s Fight for $15 & Fairness.

“I have spoken with people who voted for Doug Ford, and earn a minimum wage and find out they are not getting raise in January,” said Jessa McLean during a town-hall meeting she organized at Newmarket’s CUPE 905 on Nov. 15. “Not only they were losing their raise they were counting on, but it was happening by somebody who didn’t say anything about it at the campaign trail.”

McLean made the statement before the Ontario government passed Bill 47 on Wednesday Nov. 21.

Fight for 15 & Fairness movement started on April 15, 2015 in the province, and now it's escalating its activism after the Ontario government introduced Making Ontario Open for Business Act, 2018 or Bill 47 in late October to repeal reforms in the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act or Bill 148 enacted by the former Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne.

Click Here on the changes that will be made if Bill 47 is passed.

'Selected' deputations

The town hall meeting was held in reaction to deputations made to the province's finance and economic affairs committee session, also held in the same day on Nov. 15 to help the government make a decision on the bill, which Fight for $15 & Fairness criticized for having “only a handful of people selected from a compiled list.” 

At the town hall meeting, McLean read a letter by a single woman in her 40s named Christine, who works three part-time, minimum wage jobs. The letter was supposed to be heard by the finance committee, however Christine couldn't find a substitute to cover one of her shifts, showing how the deputations are lacking in real representations.

The organizer said the “biggest struggle” when advocating for workers’ rights is that “generally people are unaware of their own rights, when they gain them or when they lose them, so education is 90 per cent of the battle.”

“The Conservative government holds a majority on the committee just like they do in the legislature, and so they pick — predominantly — who will speak, and we know that they already don't support workers' rights.”

Inaccessibility' to politicians

McLean also criticized local politicians' “inaccessibility to us but always listening to the corporate,” explaining how it took two months to arrange “a meeting with my own MPP Caroline Mulroney [for York-Simcoe], and even then, I was limited to 15 minutes.”

The activist said she had to “ambush” Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care and MPP for Newmarket-Aurora, to speak with her at her Aurora office on Nov. 6.

At the meeting, McLean was accompanied by Dr. Jesse McLaren, an ER doctor and a delegate from the Decent Work and Health Network as well as Katherine Grzejszczak, the newly elected CUPE local 905 president and also an organizer for Fight for $15 and Fairness.

“We had to ambush her outside of a luncheon in order to get her to a promised meeting,” she said.

After a face-to-face meeting, McLean said Elliott acknowledged she and her ministry might have not gotten “everything right” on Bill 47.

McLean said she questioned Elliott about the cutbacks on sick leaves and if there is any “evidence” in “taking them away.” The activist recalled the minister saying: “Maybe we didn’t get everything right.”

“Christine Elliott said that she wasn’t even consulted on sick days,” nor its "impact" on the health-care system, she added.  However, “four days later, she (Elliott) bragged about her involvement in Bill 47, so she is lying to somebody.”

When asked about this by York RegionMedia Group, Elliott rejected McLean’s claim, saying she was “consulted on all legislation” as “as a senior member of cabinet.”

“We make decisions as a team. I look forward to working with members of our government and with partners as we continue to ensure that Ontario is open for business.”

Elliott's office also provided the following statement when asked about McLean’s frustration.

“As Deputy Premier, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, and MPP, I am proud to have worked with our government to bring forward Bill 47 and repeal most parts of the Liberals’ job-killing Bill 148,” the statement read.

At the Town Hall meeting, Carolina Jimenez, a nurse and co-ordinator for Decent Work and Health Network, also spoke out saying, “We can think of Bill 47 as a prescription for poor health.”

While supporters of Bill 47 say “workers abuse the paid sick days and revoking them will be good for business,” Jimenez cited studies from New York and San Francisco, where “basic days have been legislated, about five to nine days, most workers took three days, and a quarter of the workers took no days off.”

The nurse also said, on average, when people get “severely sick” such as with the flu, it usually lasts at least three days, and the Centre for Disease Control recommends people stay home for one to two days.

Read the York Region full story

By Paige Petrovsky

If passed Bill 47 would repeal most of the workplace protections that were put into place about a year ago. These workplace protections aimed to ensure safety and well-being on the job.

Now, the passing of Bill 47 may be a reality.

It was recently announced that Bill 47 passed the third reading today, Nov. 21.

Bill 47 would eliminate two paid sick days and limit access to personal emergency leave and have lower penalties assigned to employers for violating workplace laws.

Critics also worry that it will make it easier to deny workers any employment standards protections — including EI, CPP and WSIB — by misclassifying them as self-employed contractors instead of employees, make it easier for employers to fire workers who decline last-minute shifts.

Critics have also spoken out against the province’s plan to freeze minimum wage at $14 per hour and delay a $15 minimum wage in Ontario to 2025. They also say the bill would allow employers to pay part-time and temporary agency workers a lower wage than their full-time or directly-hired counterparts, which will lead to an increase in precarious jobs with no benefits.

“Premier Ford broke his promise to Ontarians today, he’s not for the people,” Pam Frache, Coordinator of the Ontario-wide Fight for $15 & Fairness Campaign, said in a recent press release.

“Let’s be clear, rich corporations are the only ones who stand to benefit from Bill 47, while the lowest wage earners will be forced back into poverty.”

In the press release, Franche added:

“The Ford government had absolutely no mandate to pass Bill 47, they ignored the majority opposition coming from the public and shut the people out from giving input every step of the way."

According to a recent press release, a recent campaign research poll showed that 77 per cent of Ontarians - including 64 per cent of PC voters - opposed the elimination of paid sick days.

Regardless, the Ford government voted to cancel them.

"Bill 47 is replacing the previous leave reforms with a straightforward package of defined annual job-protected leave days for every worker in Ontario: 3 days of sick leave; 3 days of family responsibility leave; and 2 bereavement days," Christine Bujold, Senior Communications Advisor and Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Laurie Scott, Minister of Labour, said via email.

"Workers would be eligible for these leaves after two weeks of work for the employer. In addition to these job-protected leave days, every worker in Ontario will be eligible to receive three weeks of paid vacation after five years."

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce, on the other hand, is happy with the passage. The following statement was released by Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of the OCC.

“On behalf of our 60,000 members in 135 communities across the province, we are pleased the Government of Ontario is holding strong in its commitment to make Ontario open for business. Bill 47 restores balance to both employers and workers as well as reduces significant financial and administrative burden felt by businesses of all sizes throughout the province. With the competitiveness of our province at a critical point, the labour reforms introduced by Bill 47 are fundamental to the long-term prosperity of our people, our businesses, and our economy.”

What do you think of Bill 47?

Read the in Brampton full story

By Emma Paling

A meeting with Ross Romano was unproductive, his Sault Ste. Marie constituents say.

Constituents say a Progressive Conservative MPP — who told the legislature he's gotten "nothing but compliments" on the provincial government's new labour bill — has ignored their concerns.

Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano spoke about Bill 47 only once in the legislature. Called the Making Ontario Open For Business Act, it repeals many of the labour reforms introduced by former premier Kathleen Wynne. It passed its final reading on Wednesday.

"I have been getting nothing but compliments from everybody back home — constant compliments," Romano said on Oct. 31. "All I hear is: Thank you, thank you, thank you to our government for getting rid of this horrible [Liberal] Bill 148."

One week earlier, constituent Mike McCleary emailed Romano a detailed list of his concerns about the law. He didn't get a response.

"The fact that he says we're just complimenting it blindly, it's insulting," McCleary told HuffPost Canada. "It shows what he really thinks of the working class community here."

The father-of-two followed up with messages to Romano on Facebook and Twitter, and another email. This time he copied NDP leader Andrea Horwath and a CBC News reporter. He heard back in an hour.

"It didn't really seem like a coincidence that when I copied the Opposition leader and a couple media sources, I got a response back so quickly."

Eventually, Romano agreed to meet with McCleary and some others who were worried about the bill on Nov. 6.

"I'd say it was overall pretty unproductive," McCleary said of the meeting. "I had asked him for specific answers on things, but [got] mostly political answers dancing around."

In the meeting, Romano said again that he has heard no complaints about Bill 47, according to Tara Maszczakiewicz, regional vice president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, who was there. Her union has been unequivocally critical of the bill.

"I don't know where he is, if he hides from social media, or what," Maszczakiewicz told HuffPost Canada. "But there were people outside his office protesting on the Tuesday, in the pouring rain, before we met with him on Friday."

Approached at Queen's Park on Wednesday, Romano told HuffPost Canada he couldn't take questions because he had a meeting. His staff has also not replied to a request for comment.

McCleary is concerned about how the bill's changes to leave and doctor's notes will affect workers.

The bill scraps a rule that employees have to give workers two paid sick days a year, and lowers the total number of days off from 10 to eight. It also rescinds a rule forbidding employers from requesting a doctor's note after an employee takes a sick day.

"I don't want to go sit in the doctor's office for four or five hours to get a doctor's note because I had to take a little bit of time to take care of myself," McCleary, who works evenings at a call centre, said.

He said that the transit system in the Sault isn't very good, so people who need a doctor's note may have to choose between sitting on the bus for hours or paying for a cab. A cab across town costs about $20, he said, and doctor's offices usually charge at least $10 for a note.

"When you're talking about a low-income family, that could be the difference between a couple of meals," he said.

Read the Huff Post full story

Law freezes minimum wage at $14 an hour until 2020, cuts 2 paid personal leave days for workers

The Ontario government passed sweeping labour reform legislation Wednesday, effectively rolling back many changes brought in by the previous Liberal regime.

The law freezes the province's minimum wage at $14 an hour until 2020 and cuts two paid personal leave days for workers, among other things.

The governing Progressive Conservatives said the legislation would encourage job growth in the province. They have said the changes made by their predecessors imposed significant costs on businesses and argued the new legislation would ease that burden.

"It's going to be good for employers, it's going to be good for employees," Tory House Leader Todd Smith said.

The measures were applauded by some in the business community but condemned by anti-poverty activists, union leaders and opposition parties, who say the changes will make life harder for average people.

"We just saw workers' rights be torn out from under them, we just saw the lowest income workers lose $2,000 in increased pay because of the decisions that the government made today in passing legislation," NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said.

Liberal legislator Nathalie Des Rosiers said the fact that Ontarians lost two paid sick days as a result of the legislation was "a real shame."

"You need to ensure that your minimum standards of employment respond to the reality of work today," she said, adding that was the purpose of the former Liberal government's reforms.

The Tory government has said Premier Doug Ford received death threats and the labour minister had her constituency office vandalized after the legislation was introduced last month — incidents that were denounced by all parties.

Labour and advocacy groups have raised the alarm at the short time frame allotted for consultation on the Tory legislation, with many saying they were denied the chance to weigh in.

Fight for $15 and Fairness, a group advocating for the minimum wage increase to be reinstated, said the five-hour limit placed on public input was in "stark contrast" with the 14 days of province-wide hearings the Liberals held on their labour changes.

"Let's be clear, rich corporations are the only ones who stand to benefit from Bill 47, while the lowest wage earners will be forced back into poverty," spokeswoman Pam Frache said of the law that passed Wednesday.

Ontario's minimum wage increased from $11.60 to $14 an hour on Jan. 1, and was set to rise to $15 an hour next year as a result of the Liberals' labour laws.

Future minimum wage hikes to be tied to inflation

Under the government's new legislation, it will remain at $14 until October 2020, with future increases tied to the rate of
inflation.

To offset the move, the Tories have exempted those earning under $30,000 from provincial income tax and given a tax cut to those earning up to $38,000. But critics maintain the plan will save workers less money than they would gain through a wage hike.

The law will also bring the total of personal leave days down to eight from 10 — three for personal illness, two for bereavement leave and three for family responsibilities.

The legislation keeps provisions brought in by the Liberals that granted workers up to 10 days of leave if they or their child experiences domestic or sexual violence. It will also maintain regulations that grant Ontario workers three weeks of paid vacation after five years of service.

A number of scheduling provisions will be eliminated, however, including a minimum of three hours pay in the event a shift is cancelled 48 hours or less before it was scheduled to begin.

Read the CBC News full story