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 info@15andFairness.org. 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 info@15andFairnes.org 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.

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

Ontario is open for sickness. Ontario is open for poverty wages. Ontario is open for law-breaking bad bosses. And we have Premier Doug Ford's Bill 47, which was passed today by a vote of 69 in favour and 45 against, to thank for it.

For those who believed Ford when he promised to stand up for the people, today's betrayal will not be forgotten. He has now told Ontario workers loudly and clearly, that his is a government for Big Business and Big Business only. 

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We are outraged. By passing Bill 47 today, the Ford government not only took the most modest protections away from millions of workers, but did so despite an overwhelming and well-documented opposition from the public. Over 77% of Ontarians -- including 64% of Conservative voters -- oppose Ford government's decision to eliminate paid sick days. Over 66% of Ontarians -- including 62% of small businesses -- support a $15 minimum wage. 

The economic evidence is also clear: the $14 minimum wage and other labour law reforms have not harmed Ontario's economy. From Statistics Canada to the Bank of Canada, there is not a shred of evidence to excuse this government's action. No wonder the right wing Toronto Sun and corporate Financial Post were reduced to publishing misleading claims from a fringe, ideologically-motivated Montreal-based think tank. Respected economist Michal Rozworski de-bunked these claims in just a few hours -- click here to get the facts.

Premier Ford and the Conservative Members of Provincial Parliament know, they had NO MANDATE to rollback labour law reforms. This is why they are repeating lies and avoiding their own constituents (the very people whom they get paid to represent). Across the province we've heard from hundreds of people that MPPs are not returning calls, refusing meetings, running out back doors or side exits, and in a couple of cases, actually turning out the lights and hiding in back rooms as constituents wait to be heard! 

They can run, but they can't hide. Yesterday, over 120 supporters of the $15 & Fairness campaign packed the gallery inside the provincial legislature. WE were the majority inside Queen's Park and we shut it down and successfully delayed the vote on Bill 47 for another day.  

Check out the CityNews coverage of our action by clicking here

We are not exaggerating when we say that our movement for decent work is growing every day. Some of the people who joined us at Queen's Park last night were in fact taking their first action with us. Like all of us, they are angry and ready to fight. It will be up to every single one of us to stay organized, stay strong, and push back against the lies coming from this government, and their corporate friends. Have a listen to some of the plans we have for moving forward by tuning into yesterday's $15 & Fairness Assembly (click here), held right after the Queen's Park action. And watch your inbox. We'll have a detailed analysis of all the things we were able to protect against this round of corporate backlash that will make a huge difference for millions of workers, from job-protected emergency leave to the $14 minimum wage. 

If you are reading this, YOU too have made our $15 and Fairness movement so much stronger. Remember, WE are the majority. And with your support, there's no way we'll let this government off the hook for what it's done. And we will be well-placed to win the next round. 

We just learned that Bill 47 will go for a final vote at the provincial legislature on Tuesday afternoon. This dangerous law will cut the minimum wage and delay $15 by seven (7)! years, eliminate paid sick days, reduce UNPAID sick leave, lower fines for employers who break the law, as well as roll back most of our new labour rights.

That leaves just three days for us to get as many of our friends, co-workers, and family to contact their Member of Provincial Parliament. If you haven't yet emailed your MPP please do it now (click here) and ask others to join you. Better, to make sure our elected officials hear our demand for decent work -- CALL YOUR MPP! You can find them and their phone number, by entering your postal code here. When you call, ask your MPP to vote against Bill 47.

If you are in Toronto, we need your help to pack the Queen's Park Gallery on Tuesday to witness the vote (click here to let us know you'll be there). Our best intel says MPPs will debate Bill 47 one last time (between 3:00 pm and 4:30 pm) before voting on it as early as 5:00 pm. *** Ford government has the power to change the timing of the debate at the last minute to avoid public scrutiny while they vote on Bill 47, please RSVP (click here) and watch your email so we can keep you updated ***

The public demand for $15 & Fairness is growing! More than three-quarters (77%) of Ontarians support paid sick days, and the vast majority want a $15 minimum wage and all the other reforms we fought so hard for. Premier Doug Ford and his government have NO MANDATE to roll back our rights (click to read our Bill 47 analysis). Every MPP who sides with Corporate lobbyists over the needs of their constituents needs to know we will not forget what they have done and we will not give up our fight.

Actions are happening every day to spread the word about our rights, and why they are at stake. Scroll down to find an event near you (or click here):