During question period today, Premier Doug Ford signaled his intent to cave in to the Big Business lobby by rolling back our new workplace rights.

Let's remind the premier that it takes more than a comment in Question Period to undo our fairer employment laws.

As it stands, THE LAW still says we are less than 13 weeks away from our $15 minimum wage and fairer scheduling rules – rules that would  protect workers if they say no to a last-minute shift that conflicts, say, with a child’s birthday celebration.

Help us spread the word that our $15 minimum wage is still coming.

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

This musing from Premier Ford must not be allowed to pass without a response. We need to let him know the whole province is watching. Will he be FOR THE PEOPLE or FOR THE CORPORATE ELITES?

What you can do right now:

• Call the premier - dial 416-325-1941 to leave a message. Let's raise our voices from across Ontario.
• Email your MPP, click here. Then mobilize your friends, family and co-workers to do the same.
• Sign up for an October 15 Day of Action event in your community - click here to get updates.
• Order a window / lawn sign or a banner to display on your campus, in your workplace or neighbourhood (click here).
• Help us get the truth out over social media, by sharing the evidence below:

Don't believe the lies coming from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, that decent wages hurt the economy.

The Statistics Canada data show that the total number of hours worked by workers across Ontario grew fastest AFTER the minimum wage rose to $14 and in the Food Services and Accommodation sector – the sector with the highest concentration of minimum wage employment -- average hours of work grew even faster, increasing by 13% between January and August. Wages in that sector also grew at by an impressive 10% - faster than the rest of Ontario (click here to download shareable)

Contrary to recent media headlines, the law still says a $15 minimum wage and fairer scheduling rules are coming on January 1, 2019. As it stands, more than 1.7 million workers are set to receive their wage increase in less than 14 weeks. This is why we took this important message straight to Queen's Park today, to set the record straight!

Click here to check out photos from the press conference
Click here to watch the live streem

The confusion about the future of Ontario's minimum wage stems from Labour Minister Laurie Scott signalling her intent to side with the Big Business lobby that wants to cancel our $15 minimum wage and our other new workplace laws. Unless backed by legislative action, these kinds of statements can be understood as "trial balloons". Governments release statements to gauge the public's response to an initiative. How the public responds helps the government decide whether to proceed, pull back, -- or go even further. That's why what we do now really matters.

WHAT WE DO NOW WILL MAKE HISTORY.

We must let every government MPP know, we expect them to put our need for decent work ahead of corporate interests. Here is what you can do: 

1. Email Doug Ford today. Each and everyone of us need to speak out right now! Please send an email today (click here). If you are a member of a community group, union, or student organization with access to an email list, please ask your organization to circulate this call to action. 
   
   
2. Get ready for an emergency action. If the government does go forward with legislation (or regulation) that attacks our new workplace laws, we need to respond no later than the following day. For Toronto, this means heading over to the Ministry of Labour (400 University Ave) at 5:00 pm the day after they table legislation (or regulation) rolling back our rights. For other actions and other cities, check our website (click here) or Facebook page (click here) to see where you can connect.
   
   
3. Help fund our fight. We urgently need financial resources to organize and extend our fight. Big Business has lots of money to donate to political parties, buy advertising, and influence media. But this campaign relies on all of us donating our time and money to this fight. Whether its copying flyers and posters or providing buttons and banners, we are counting on you to help us. Click here to make a contribution right now. We promise we will make good use of every single penny we receive. 

Please don't forget: if the government felt confident about cancelling our wage increase and rolling back our labour laws,  Premier Ford would be front and centre of a major news conference.

But they are NOT confident. They know, as do we, that over 66% of the Ontarians support a $15 minimum wage, including 62% of small business owners and nearly half of Conservative voters. 

So please join us as we continue the countdown to $15, and help spread this message far and wide.

Share the graphic: Click here for Facebook -  Click here for Twitter

Millions of workers are counting on a $15 minimum wage, equal pay for equal work, paid sick days and so much more. Let's double-down on organizing to make sure these rights are protected, enforced, and arrive on time.

What an incredible Day of Action we had on Saturday, September 15, to kick off the "15 Week Countdown" to $15 minimum wage! Hundreds of people came out to do outreach in over 20 cities across Ontario, extending our reach to thousands of new supporters! Bravo to everyone who participated in the day of action on the streets or online. If you haven't done so already, add your voice now by sending an email to Premier Ford and your local Member of Provincial Parliament (click here).

 
Click here to see more photos from September 15 Day of Action

There is no doubt that Labour Minister Laurie Scott's op-ed in the Financial Post suggesting that her government is preparing to cancel the $15 minimum wage was a big disappointment for many Ontarians, including almost half of Conservative voters, who support the wage increase. But let's be clear: publishing an opinion piece in the Financial Post on a Friday afternoon, is not the mark of a government confident in its actions. Were they confident to cancel our $15 minimum wage, it would have been announced at a multi-media news conference with Premier Ford at the centre. Indeed, this op-ed is more of a trial balloon for the public and a pacifier for the corporate elite. 

What we do right now matters. There's not a moment to lose. Call or email Premier Ford, and ask your friends, neighbours, and coworkers to do the same. 

Click here to send an email to Premier Ford and your local MPP

As it stands, the law says: 1.7 million of us are poised to get a $15 minimum wage on January 1. Millions more will benefit from the fairer scheduling rules that are also coming on January 1. For the first time in our lives, all of us have paid sick days and job-protected emergency leave. The new equal pay for equal work rules that prevent wage discrimination based on part-time or temporary employment contracts have made life-changing differences for so many of us -- including workers of colour, newcomers and women. We have come this far by fighting for every inch of progress. 

It is crucial that we keep up the momentum to demand public accountability from our elected officials. Despite the 66% public support for the $15 minimum wage, the special interest groups representing the 1% are pulling out all the stops to take away $15 minimum wage, paid sick days, and our other new workplace rights. 

But WE can still stop them. Every email we send to our MPP (send an email now), every conversation we have with our friends and coworkers, every #15andFairness lawn sign or banner (order now) we display outside our home, community centre, labour council or place of worship makes a world of difference.

In the days ahead, we have many actions coming up from Hamilton (Sept. 24, click for details) to Brantford (Sept. 25 & 26, click for details), Kingston (Sept, 28, click for details) to Aurora (Sept. 29, click for details). And if you are based in Toronto, please join us at next week's Volunteer drop-in on Monday, City-wide Organizing Meeting on Tuesday or Phonebank on Wednesday. An incredible number of people are joining our campaign every day. We need all the help we can get to follow-up with them, and connect them with local actions. Click here to see the full list of upcoming events.

We are now only 15 weeks away from getting the scheduled increase to $15 minimum wage and fairer scheduling laws. To mark the day, over 20 cities across Ontario are hosting local events tomorrow, making this the biggest provincial day of mobilization since the June election.

Spread the message!
Click here for: Facebook -- Twitter -- To Download

Saturday's day of action -- co-organized with the Ontario Federation of Labour -- is crucial. Corporate lobbyists spearheaded by Ontario Chamber of Commerce are intensifying the pressure on the government to roll back our new labour laws. We need to send a clear message to all elected officials: stand with us, the people, against corporate elites.

Will you join us tomorrow, on Saturday, September 15?
Click here to find an event near you!

If you cannot attend an event, you can still take action to make your voice heard. Please take a minute right now to send an email to Doug Ford and your local MPP (click here to take action). Our online tool comes with a pre-drafted message (which you can also edit). Just type in your address and press send!

To find out more about the events happening tomorrow, scroll down. Don't forget to follow the action at #15andFairness! Share your messages and photos in support of decent work by using the hashtag #15andFairness.

Ajax
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM -- Starbucks by Chapters, 90 Kingston Road
Together with Durham Region Labour Council we`ll be doing an outreach blitz to talk with Ajax residents. Help us send a strong message to MPP Rod Phillips.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Aurora
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM -- 238 Wellington St. East, Suite 203
Join us in doing a delegation visit to local MPP and Deputy Premier Christine Elliott. Residents of Newmarket-Aurora support $15 & Fairness and expect their representative to be a decent work champion.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Barrie
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM -- Barrie Farmers Market (Collier & Mulcaster St)
Join us to do community outreach and spread information about our new rights as workers. We will also be collecting signatures to deliver to local MPPs Andrea Khanjin and Doug Downey.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Belleville
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM -- MPP Todd Smith’s Office, 5503 Hwy 62 South
Quinte Labour Council and $15 & Fairness Kingston are hosting this joint outreach to talk to constituents in Bay of Quinte. Come and help us collect petitions to be delivered to MPP Todd Smith.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Brampton (South)
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM -- 7690 Hurontario St (Near Hurontario & Ray Lawson)
We’re meeting in front of McDonalds at 10:45 am! Come and help us collect petitions to deliver to MPP Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Brampton (West)
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM -- 15 Bovaird Dr. East (Near Hurontario & Bovaird)
We’re meeting in front of Tim Hortons at 1:45 am! Help us deliver a strong message to MPP Amarjot Sandhu by collecting signatures in support of $15 & Fairness.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Cambridge
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM -- Ainslie St. Transit Terminal, 35 Ainslie St. S
Join Waterloo Regional Labour Council in sending a message to MPP Belinda Karahalios. Cambridge residents want and support $15 & Fairness.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Cobourg
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM -- Outside MPP David Piccini’s office, 513 Division St, Unit 7
Join Northumberland Labour Council to raise awareness about our new workplace rights. Let’s call upon MPP David Piccini to be a decent work champion and ensure that our fairer labour laws are protected and extended.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Etobicoke
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM -- Humber Bay Shores Farmers Market, 2240 Lake Shore Blvd W
Meet us in front of the Pizza Plus store on the north east corner of the intersection of Lake Shore Blvd West at Legion Rd. We’ll be collecting petitions to deliver to MPP Christine Hogarth.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Guelph
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM -- Guelph City Hall
Let's assemble at City Hall to talk about our new rights at work and why they may be at stake. MPP Mike Schreiner signed the $15 & Fairness pledge to be a decent work champion during the election, we will collect petitions for him to read into the legislature.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Hamilton
11:00 AM - 12:00PM -- Hamilton City Hall, 71 Main Street W
Join Hamilton & District Labour Council for a rally and solidarity action. Let’s call upon our elected officials to prioritize our need for decent work over corporate interests.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Lindsay
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM – Farmers’ Market, 4 Victoria Ave. between Kent St. and Peel St.
Come out and join us as we talk to our neighbours about our new rights at work. Let’s send a message to local MPP and Minister of Labour Laurie Scott that Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock wants and supports decent work!
Click here to let us know you’ll be there!

London / St. Thomas
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM -- Horton Farmers’ Market, 10 Manitoba St, ½ Block North of Talbot St 
Join us to do community outreach and spread information about our new rights as workers. We will also be collecting signatures to deliver to MPP Jeff Yurek in the riding of Elgin-Middlesex-London.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there!

Mississauga
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM -- Morning Star Dr and Goreway Dr (South East side of Westwood Square)
Join Peel Regional Labour Council for a neighbourhood outreach in Mississauga-Malton. Together we can send a message to MPP Deepak Anand.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

North Bay
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM -- Main St W and Ferguson St
Join Nipissing Decent Work for a downtown petition canvass in North Bay, followed by a 5:00 PM neighbourhood BBQ party. Help us collect signatures to demonstrate to MPP Vic Fedeli, our communities expect a $15 minimum wage by January 1, 2019.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Oakville
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM -- Oakville Farmers Market (240 North Service Road West)
Join us to talk to our neighbours about their rights, collect signatures on our petition and remind people to contact Oakville MPP Stephen Crawford and Oakville North Burlington MPP Effie Triantafilopoulos.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Oshawa
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM -- East side of the Oshawa Centre Mall, 419 King St W
Meet We Are Oshawa to do outreach on the east side of the Oshawa Centre Mall (by the bus loop). We will be connecting with Durham and Oshawa residents to ask them to contact their MPPs. Please call Lucian Mailloux at 289-685-7393 for more info.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Ottawa
12:30 PM -  2:00 PM -- 2249 Carling Avenue (Near Carling & Fairlawn)
Help us take our message straight from the streets to MPP Jeremy Roberts. Meet us in the parking lot outside the MPP’s office and join a postering and canvassing blitz in the neighbourhood.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Scarborough Centre
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM  -- 2063 Lawrence Ave E (Near Warden & Lawrence)
Let's talk to our fellow workers and community members in Scarborough to let them know what is at stake with our new rights at work. We’ll be collecting petitions to deliver to MPP Christina Mitas!
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Scarborough (Rouge Park)
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM -- #105-8130 Sheppard Avenue East (Near Sheppard & Morningside)
Help us spread the word in the neighbourhod to deliver a strong message to MPP Vijay Thanigasalam!
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Toronto (Eglinton-Lawrence)
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM -- 2882 Dufferin St (Near the Glencairn Ave & Dufferin St intersection)
Join us outside the office of MPP Robin Martin to let all our neighbours know about their new rights as workers. We will also be collecting signatures to ask our provincial representative to speak out for $15 & Fairness.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

York Simcoe (Holland Landing)
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM -- 45 Grist Mill Road, Unit 8 (West of Grist Mill Park)
Join us in doing a delegation visit to local MPP Caroline Mulroney. Residents of York-Simcoe expect the new government to protect and extend our fairer labour laws.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

It isn’t business as usual at Queen’s Park.

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce has come out calling on the Ford government to take away -- not only the $15 minimum wage, but also our 2 paid sick days, right to equal pay, fairer scheduling laws, and more. Indeed, Corporate Canada is calling for the full repeal of Bill 148. And with the legislative assembly reconvening tomorrow, we need to pull out all the stops to ensure the new government doesn’t cave in to the Big Business lobby.

That’s why our September 15 - Day of Action is so critical. In partnership with the Ontario Federation of Labour, we'll be mobilizing across Ontario to send a clear message to our elected representatives. Let's show every MPP that Ontarians are counting on them to stand up to corporate elites by protecting our new workplace rights.

Will you join us on Saturday, September 15?
Click here to find an event near you!

Public opinion is clearly with us. We know that 66% of Ontarians support the $15 minimum wage and decent work for all. On Saturday, help us call on the new government to stand with us against the rich CEOs who would rather deny decent wages to their workers, than share their vast wealth.

Already, more than 15 actions are planned for September 15 (click here to see them). Wherever you are, you can collect signatures on petitions (click here to download), visit your local MPP office, hang up our new Hands Off! posters (click here to download) or simply send an email to Doug Ford and your MPP (click here to take action now).

Please scroll below to see the actions that are already called for September 15. If you don’t see one in your community, grab a friend or co-worker and plan one. And be sure to let us know what you’re doing -- by replying to this email with your deets -- so we can promote it.

Ajax
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM -- Starbucks by Chapters, 90 Kingston Road
Together with Durham Region Labour Council we`ll be doing an outreach blitz to talk with Ajax residents. Help us send a strong message to MPP Rod Phillips.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Aurora
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM -- 238 Wellington St. East, Suite 203
Join us in doing a delegation visit to local MPP and Deputy Premier Christine Elliott. Residents of Newmarket-Aurora support $15 & Fairness and expect their representative to be a decent work champion.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Barrie
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM -- Barrie Farmers Market (Collier & Mulcaster St)
Join us to do community outreach and spread information about our new rights as workers. We will also be collecting signatures to deliver to local MPPs Andrea Khanjin and Doug Downey.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Belleville
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM -- MPP Todd Smith’s Office, 5503 Hwy 62 South
Quinte Labour Council and $15 & Fairness Kingston are hosting this joint outreach to talk to constituents in Bay of Quinte. Come and help us collect petitions to be delivered to MPP Todd Smith.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Brampton (South)
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM -- 7690 Hurontario St (Near Hurontario & Ray Lawson)
We’re meeting in front of McDonalds at 10:45 am! Come and help us collect petitions to deliver to MPP Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Brampton (West)
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM -- 15 Bovaird Dr. East (Near Hurontario & Bovaird)
We’re meeting in front of Tim Hortons at 1:45 am! Help us deliver a strong message to MPP Amarjot Sandhu by collecting signatures in support of $15 & Fairness.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Cambridge
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM -- Ainslie St. Transit Terminal, 35 Ainslie St. S
Join Waterloo Regional Labour Council in sending a message to MPP Belinda Karahalios. Cambridge residents want and support $15 & Fairness.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Cobourg
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM -- Outside MPP David Piccini’s office, 513 Division St, Unit 7
Join Northumberland Labour Council to raise awareness about our new workplace rights. Let’s call upon MPP David Piccini to be a decent work champion and ensure that our fairer labour laws are protected and extended.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Etobicoke
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM -- Humber Bay Shores Farmers Market, 2240 Lake Shore Blvd W
Meet us in front of the Pizza Plus store on the north east corner of the intersection of Lake Shore Blvd West at Legion Rd. We’ll be collecting petitions to deliver to MPP Christine Hogarth.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Guelph
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM -- Guelph City Hall
Let's assemble at City Hall to talk about our new rights at work and why they may be at stake. MPP Mike Schreiner signed the $15 & Fairness pledge to be a decent work champion during the election, we will collect petitions for him to read into the legislature.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Hamilton
11:00 AM - 12:00PM -- Hamilton City Hall, 71 Main Street W
Join Hamilton & District Labour Council for a rally and solidarity action. Let’s call upon our elected officials to prioritize our need for decent work over corporate interests.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Lindsay
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM – Farmers’ Market, 4 Victoria Ave. between Kent St. and Peel St.
Come out and join us as we talk to our neighbours about our new rights at work. Let’s send a message to local MPP and Minister of Labour Laurie Scott that Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock wants and supports decent work!
Click here to let us know you’ll be there!

London / St. Thomas
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM -- Horton Farmers’ Market, 10 Manitoba St, ½ Block North of Talbot St 
Join us to do community outreach and spread information about our new rights as workers. We will also be collecting signatures to deliver to MPP Jeff Yurek in the riding of Elgin-Middlesex-London.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there!

Mississauga
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM -- Morning Star Dr and Goreway Dr (South East side of Westwood Square)
Join Peel Regional Labour Council for a neighbourhood outreach in Mississauga-Malton. Together we can send a message to MPP Deepak Anand.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

North Bay
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM -- Main St W and Ferguson St
Join Nipissing Decent Work for a downtown petition canvass in North Bay, followed by a 5:00 PM neighbourhood BBQ party. Help us collect signatures to demonstrate to MPP Vic Fedeli, our communities expect a $15 minimum wage by January 1, 2019.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Oakville
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM -- Oakville Farmers Market (240 North Service Road West)
Join us to talk to our neighbours about their rights, collect signatures on our petition and remind people to contact Oakville MPP Stephen Crawford and Oakville North Burlington MPP Effie Triantafilopoulos.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Oshawa
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM -- East side of the Oshawa Centre Mall, 419 King St W
Meet We Are Oshawa to do outreach on the east side of the Oshawa Centre Mall (by the bus loop). We will be connecting with Durham and Oshawa residents to ask them to contact their MPPs. Please call Lucian Mailloux at 289-685-7393 for more info.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Ottawa
12:30 PM -  2:00 PM -- 2249 Carling Avenue (Near Carling & Fairlawn)
Help us take our message straight from the streets to MPP Jeremy Roberts. Meet us in the parking lot outside the MPP’s office and join a postering and canvassing blitz in the neighbourhood.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Scarborough Centre
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM  -- 2063 Lawrence Ave E (Near Warden & Lawrence)
Let's talk to our fellow workers and community members in Scarborough to let them know what is at stake with our new rights at work. We’ll be collecting petitions to deliver to MPP Christina Mitas!
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Scarborough (Rouge Park)
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM -- #105-8130 Sheppard Avenue East (Near Sheppard & Morningside)
Help us spread the word in the neighbourhod to deliver a strong message to MPP Vijay Thanigasalam!
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

Toronto (Eglinton-Lawrence)
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM -- 2882 Dufferin St (Near the Glencairn Ave & Dufferin St intersection)
Join us outside the office of MPP Robin Martin to let all our neighbours know about their new rights as workers. We will also be collecting signatures to ask our provincial representative to speak out for $15 & Fairness.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

York Simcoe (Holland Landing)
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM -- 45 Grist Mill Road, Unit 8 (West of Grist Mill Park)
Join us in doing a delegation visit to local MPP Caroline Mulroney. Residents of York-Simcoe expect the new government to protect and extend our fairer labour laws.
Click here to let us know you’ll be there! Click here to share on Facebook

See you in the streets on September 15!

This Labour Day we have a lot to be proud of. Thanks to thousands of people across Ontario who have been fighting for decent work and wages, we have won the biggest reforms for workers in 40 years.

Send an email now to Doug Ford and your MPP:
Ask them to join us in standing up to the Big Business Lobby

Equal pay is starting to close the equity and gender wage gap for part-time, temporary, contract and casual employees. Ontario has become the first jurisdiction in Canada to offer paid sick days and personal emergency leave to all workers. We have new union rights that will make it easier for many workers to form unions. And on top of all that, a $15 minimum wage and fairer scheduling rules are coming on January 1, 2019.

But we can’t stop now. Big Business is fully mobilized to roll back our wins and cancel our $15 minimum wage. We can’t let them get away with it (click here to take action now).

As we predicted, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce has now officially called on the Ontario government to repeal Bill 148, the legislation that enacted our paid sick days, equal pay for equal work, union rights, and so much more.  

Right now we need everyone's help to protect our hard-won rights. Take a minute right now to send an email to Doug Ford and your local Member of Parliament (click here). Our new online tool comes with a pre-drafted message you can edit, and it will automatically find your local representative based on your address. It’s urgent we remind the new government they must put our need for decent work, ahead of corporate interests.

Truth is, when it comes to denouncing Bill 148, the Chamber of Commerce has been consistently wrong. They were wrong when they argued that a higher minimum wage would lead to the loss of 185,000 jobs, in fact, Statistics Canada data show Ontario gained that many jobs (source: RankandFile). They were wrong when they said our new labour laws would increase unemployment, when in fact, Ontario’s unemployment rate is at its lowest level in 18 years (source: Globe and Mail). They were wrong when they said employers would all cut back hours, when in fact the sectors that rely on low-wage labour have seen a growth in hours worked, including a 6% increase in the food services and hospitality sectors (source: Toronto Star).

Send an email now to Doug Ford and your MPP:
Ask them to join us in standing up to the Big Business Lobby

Clearly, the facts matter little to rich CEO’s like Galen Weston (Loblaws) or Rocco Rossi, of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. It’s time we tell Big Business lobbyists that Ontarians are done subsidizing their cheap labour practices.

Here’s what you can do:

• Come out to a local Labour Day action! Check out events happening today across Ontario (click here). If you are in Toronto, don't miss this morning's Labour Day Parade (sign up here).
• Find an upcoming action to join, if you can’t come out to Labour Day events click here to join an action in your community.
• Order window sign/s, lawn sign/s or a banner to show your support on campus, at your workplace, or in your neighbourhood (select your swag here).
• Donate to the Fight On! Fund for $15 & Fairness to fuel our organizing (click here to make a contribution). Rich CEOs and corporate lobbyists are a tiny minority. But they have plenty of money to donate to political parties and amplify their message in the media. We have people power, but we need more resources to spread our message and organize a powerful movement that can beat back the Big Business bullies. If every worker benefitting from our new laws made a modest financial contribution each month to the Fight for $15 and Fairness, it would make a huge difference to our ability to organize the 66% majority who want, need and deserve a $15 minimum wage and decent work. Will you make a contribution now? Rest assured, no amount is too small. We will make excellent use of every penny we receive.

A $15 minimum wage is coming on January 1, 2019. But Big Business lobbyists are trying to cancel it. It is our job to let every Member of Provincial Parliament know that Ontarians expect and demand $15 & Fairness. We cannot let a single day pass by without calling on the new government to stand up to the Big Business lobby, protect our $15 minimum wage, and defend our new workplace rights.

Friend, will you help us? A quick action you can take right now will help spread the word:

NEW VIDEO, LET'S WATCH & SHARE: 
Click for Facebook - Click for Twitter - Click for Youtube

Over the summer we saw what the Doug Ford government is capable of, following its damaging rollbacks and cuts. We can't sit back and hope for the best while corporate lobby groups are chomping at the bit to cancel the $15 minimum wage. We need your voice now -- and we need the voices of your friends and neighbours. 

Remember: two-thirds of Ontarians support a $15 minimum wage, including 42% of those who voted for Doug Ford. Join us now to tell the Doug Ford government: Hands off our $15 minimum wage and fairer labour laws!

SHARE THE NEW VIDEO

To deliver this message clearly, please take a moment right now to spread this new video far and wide, then:

• Come out to Labour Day events this weekend! Check out the local events happening on: Saturday, September 1st (click here) -- Sunday, September 2nd (click here) -- Monday, September 3rd (click here). If you are in Toronto, don't miss Monday's Labour Day Parade (sign up here).
• Find an upcoming action to join, if you cannot come out to Labour Day events (view the $15 & Fairness event listing here)
• Order window sign/s, lawn sign/s or a banner to make your support known in your community, campus or workplace (select your swag here)
• Donate to the Fight On! Fund for $15 & Fairness to fuel our organizing (click here to make a contribution)

Today's Statistics Canada report reveals that Ontario is leading the country in job creation and July's unemployment rate has fallen to 5.4% -- the lowest rate since 2000. Youth employment in Ontario increased, which means more young people are finding jobs. These results fly in the face of Big Business lobby groups -- like the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce -- that made outlandish claims that raising the minimum wage would kill jobs, especially for youth. As we can see, nothing could be further from the truth. And yet, the new Ontario government is still preparing to cancel our $15 minimum wage and roll back our other labour law victories. We can't let this happen. 

The clock is ticking.

Doug Ford is clearly wasting no time in advancing his agenda. Not only has he launched a direct attack on municipal representation in Toronto, he’s taken out his own Conservative rival Patrick Brown by cancelling elections for the four regional chair positions. 

In just a few short weeks, the new Conservative government has legislated striking workers back to work, cut the scheduled increase in social assistance rates, cancelled the basic income pilot project affecting thousands of low-income families, and implemented a hiring freeze that will make it harder to deliver the public services we rely on. This hiring freeze also undermines the government’s ability to enforce our new labour laws and eliminates the 100 additional Employment Standards Officers who would have been hired for that purpose.

Clearly, it is only a matter of time before the new government tables legislation intended to roll back our hard won labour law reforms. But each day without legislation is one more day we have to organize and activate the majority of Ontarians who support a $15 minimum wage and decent work for all.

The fight is not over and we need you more than ever!

Mobilize and organize!

Across Ontario, $15 and Fairness fighters have been collecting signatures on our new petition demanding the government protect -- and extend -- the improvements we’ve won through Bill 148. Already, eight (8) MPPs have read our new petition in the legislative assembly and more have promised to do so in the days ahead.

But we need many more people to be collecting signatures, in workplaces, campuses, and communities in every riding. We should aim to have an MPP reading our petitions into the legislative assembly every single day the legislature sits. We must use every opportunity we have to remind Premier Doug Ford and other government MPPs that WE are the people and we want our $15 minimum wage, fair scheduling laws, equal pay rules (regardless of whether we work full-time, part-time, contract, or temporarily), union rights, and more.

Click here to download our excellent new online tools, from posters & petitions to leaflets & fact sheets. 

To order lawn signs and banners, click here. 

We are the majority!

Never forget: 60% of voters did NOT support Doug Ford and among those who did, post-election surveys show that some 40% also support the $15 minimum wage. Indeed, a recent Angus Reid poll shows that fully two-thirds of all Canadians – 66% – support a $15 minimum wage!

Click here to download our latest sharable. 

But good sentiment is not enough. It is urgent that we find ways of pulling everyone who supports $15 and Fairness into activity, regardless of how they voted. A great example is in Barrie, where former NDP, Liberal and Green candidates joined forces to mobilize at Kempenfest – local festival. Click here to read more. 

There’s no doubt that the majority of Ontarians want decent work for all and we clearly have momentum. The only thing working against us is time. It’s a race against the clock to organize and activate every single person who wants to fight. That’s why your efforts are so crucial. Let’s do our very best to beat the clock. Millions of workers are counting on us to do just that.

Join an action near you or contact us to find out how you too can organize an event in your neighbourhood, campus, or workplace.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Friday, August 10
Northumberland Coalition for Social Justice MPP Picket (Cobourg)
4:00 pm | Constituency Office of David Piccini, Unit 7, 513 Division Street (across from No Frills, north of KFC)
The recently-formed Northumberland Coalition for Social Justice is calling for all Northumberland residents committed to social justice to join the information picket called by the Northumberland Coalition Against Poverty (NCAP) at the time and place set out above. NCAP, together with anti-poverty organizations across the province, is calling for the Ford government to reverse its cut to the planned increase in social assistance rates and for an open and transparent process for future changes. For more information about the Ford cuts or Friday’s picket contact Deborah O'Connor, (905) 372-3646. Text 905-376-3110 or e-mail [email protected] for more information about the Northumberland Coalition for Social Justice.

Saturday, August 11
Fighting Austerity, Building a powerful movement (London)
12:00 noon – 3:00 pm | Unifor Local 27 Hall 606 First Street
Join us to discuss building a movement to challenge the new government's plans to impose austerity. Guest speakers include: John Clarke from the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, Mike Palacheck from CUPW, Pam Frache from the Fight for $15 & Fairness, and Patti Dalton from the London District Labour Council. See you there! To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here.

Sunday, August 12
Ottawa petitioning blitz – Lansdowne Farmers’ Market
12:00 noon – 2:00 pm | 900 Exhibition Way
Ontario workers are expecting a $15 minimum wage on January 1st 2019. We are ready and organized to defend the rights that we won, and push for more! We'll be reaching out to folks at the Lansdowne Farmers’ Market this Sunday! See you there! To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here.

Outreach Blitz at Christie Pits (Toronto)
5:45 pm – 7:30 pm | Christie Pits
Ontario workers are expecting a $15 minimum wage on January 1st 2019. We are ready and organized to defend the rights that we won, and push for more! We'll be reaching out to folks at Christie Pits on a lovely sunday evening. Meet us at 5:45pm at the south east corner of the park near Christie and Bloor. To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here.

Tuesday, August 14
Toronto-Wide Organizing Meeting
5:30 pm - 8:00 pm | 720 Spadina Ave, Suite 202
We are the people that Premier Doug Ford says he represents, so let’s get him prepared to add decent work to the agenda. Join us for this next organizing meeting to find out how we can make this happen and what is next in our campaign. Snacks served at 5:30 pm. Meeting begins at 6:00 pm, finishes at 8:00 pm. To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here.

Thursday, August 16
Kingston Summer Social and Fundraiser
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm | Grad Club, 2nd Floor (corner of Barrie and Union) Kingston
Join us for this summer social with guest speaker David Bush (Toronto Fight for $15 and Fairness). We’ll be discussing where the Ford Agenda and the Fight for $15 and Fairness. We’ll be hosting a 50/50 draw to help fund campaign materials. To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here.

Saturday, August 18
Britannia Beach Pop-Up Know Your Rights Primer & Petitioning (Ottawa)
11:00 am – 2:00 pm | Britannia Beach
Join us as we spread the word about our new employment rights. Workers can’t enforce what they don’t know they have. A big part of our battle is making sure that workers know their rights so they can work together to enforce them. Join us at Britannia Beach to help us spread the word, collect signatures on our petition and increase the pressure on our elected representatives at Queen’s Park. To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here. For more information: [email protected]

Outreach Blitz in Mimico
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm | Birds and Beans Coffee
Ontario workers are expecting a $15 minimum wage on January 1st 2019. We are ready and organized to defend the rights that we won, and push for more. We'll be speaking to families and workers in Mimico to collect petitions that we will deliver to MPP's at Queens Park to make our voices heard! We'll meet first at the Birds and Beans cafe at 1pm. (Take the 76 bus from Royal York station). Call Jared at 647-273-5285 to find us if you're coming a bit late or for more information. To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here.

Outreach Blitz at Moss Park Festival (Toronto)
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm | Moss Park Festival
Moss Park festival will feature local entertainment, fun and interactive activities, market place vendors, and a community BBQ - Free Barbeque at 1pm- 2pm. The event is free and open to all! Join the Fight for $15 & Fairness as we do outreach and talk to the festival attendees about the need for a $15 minimum wage and decent work for all. We will collect petitions that we will deliver to MPP's at Queens Park to make our voices heard! To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here.

Tuesday, August 21
Ottawa Organizing Meeting
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm | 251 Bank Street 
There’s no time to lose! Join us for this Ottawa area organizing meeting. Help us send a message to Queen’s Park: Ottawa supports $15 and Fairness. To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here.

Workshop: Door-Knocking and Influencing MPPs (Toronto)
5:30 pm – 8:00 pm | 720 Spadina Ave, Suite 202
Let's make sure all Members of Provincial Parliament are decent work champions. This summer, 30 MPPs signed our decent work pledge and many MPPs have already read our petitions into the legislature. But, we need to encourage all of them to do the same this fall. Join us for a workshop on how to influence your MPP to support decent work. We’ll learn everything from how to grab the attention of your MPP to running an effective in-person meeting. Snacks served at 5:30 pm. Meeting begins at 6:00 pm, finishes at 8:00 pm. To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here.

Saturday, August 25
Herongate Tenant Coalition Fundraiser (Ottawa)
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm | Happy Goat Coffee Co, 33 Laurel Street
Join the Ottawa area Fight for $15 and Fairness as they support Herongate tenants.

Outreach Blitz in Weston (Toronto)
12:00 noon - 2:00 pm | Northwest corner of Weston Road and Lawrence Ave W by the clocktower.
Ontario workers are expecting a $15 minimum wage on January 1st 2019. We are ready and organized to defend the rights that we won, and push for more. We'll be speaking to families and workers in Weston to collect petitions that we will deliver to MPP's at Queens Park to make our voices heard! To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here.

Saturday, August 25 AND Sunday, 26
$15 and Fairness Outreach Blitz at TamilFest (Scarborough)
Choose your shift(s): 2:00 pm-4:00 pm OR 4:00 pm-6:00 pm | Markham Road between McNicholl Avenue and Passmore Avenue, Scarborough
Tamil Fest is the largest Tamil street festival of its kind outside of the Indian subcontinent. This two-day festival is expected to draw thousands of people from across North America and is a unique platform to showcase and exhibit traditional and modern Tamil culture, cuisine, arts and entertainment. Join the Fight for $15 & Fairness as we do outreach and talk to the festival attendees about the need for a $15 minimum wage and decent work for all. We will be having 2 shifts on Saturday, August 25; and 2 shifts on Sunday, August 26. The shifts will be 2-4pm, and 4-6pm for both days. To RSVP for August 25, click here; to RSVP for August 26, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here.

Sunday, August 26
$15 and Fairness at Ottawa Pride
1:30 pm to 3:30 pm | Bank Street
We’re loud and proud and can’t wait to take $15 and Fairness to Ottawa’s Pride Parade with the message that all workers deserve protection! To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here. For more information: [email protected]

$15 & Fairness outreach blitz in Oakwood (Toronto)
12 pm noon - 2:00 pm | 1471 Eglinton Ave W (Meet at Coffee Time)
Ontario workers are expecting a $15 minimum wage on January 1st 2019. We are ready and organized to defend the rights that we won, and push for more. We'll be speaking to families and workers in Oakwood to collect petitions that we will deliver to MPP's at Queens Park to make our voices heard! P.S Extra exciting news: MPP Jill Andrews will be joining us this round. To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here.

Tuesday, August 28
Toronto-Wide Organizing Meeting
5:30 pm - 8:00 pm | 720 Spadina Ave, Suite 202
The momentum is with us and we are pulling out all the stops to protect and extend our new labour rights, including equal pay, fair scheduling, union rights, and our $15 minimum wage. Please note there will be a special caucus to discuss strategy and action to enforce the new equal pay protections for workers and faculty on college and university campuses. We are extending a special invitation for students, staff, and faculty to join us. Snacks served at 5:30 pm. Meeting begins at 6:00 pm, finishes at 8:00 pm. To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here.

Wednesday, August 29
Ottawa ACORN Herongate Press Conference
Save the date: Details TBA

Monday, September 3rd
LABOUR DAY - Events across Ontario
Check with your local labour council to find a Labour Day event in your community. Click here for a list of labour councils across Ontario. 

Toronto 15 & Fairness at Labour Day 
9:45 am - 12:45 pm | Trinity Bellwoods Park - 790 Queen St W
The Big Business lobby isn't going to stop and we won't stop until every single worker has $15 and real fairness at work. We'll meet at Trinity Bellwoods gates and will be spreading the word about what's at stake in the upcoming months. It's gonna be a morning of freezies and fun! To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here.

Tuesday, September 4th
Workshop: Organizing Creative Actions
5:30 pm - 8:00 pm | 720 Spadina Ave, Suite 202
Join us for this workshop on how to organize creative, empowering and fun actions. The more creative and attractive our events, the more likely we'll be to draw new people into our movement. Together we’ll share tips and strategies for building the boldest actions possible. Snacks served at 5:30 pm, workshop begins at 6:00 pm and finishes at 8:00 pm. To RSVP click here and to spread the word on Facebook, click here.

Thursday, September 6th
Carleton University (Ottawa) Grad Fair Tabling
12:00 noon – 4:00 pm | Carleton University
Fighting for $15 and Fairness means fighting for equal pay for full-time, part-time and contract workers and faculty on campus. Join us for a petitioning blitz to help students, staff, and faculty enforce equal pay for equal work, and other current and scheduled provisions under the new law, including our $15 minimum wage. To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here. For more information, email [email protected].

Tuesday, September 11th
Toronto-wide Organizing Meeting
5:30 pm - 8:00 pm | 720 Spadina Ave, Suite 202
There's no time to lose as we step up our fight for $15 and fairness! At this meeting, we'll share the latest news, information, action updates and strategies to mobilize the majority who want a $15 minimum wage and decent work. In addition to our ongoing caucuses, we will be hosting a special trade union caucus for union members. It will be a chance to share tips and learn more about organizing for $15 & Fairness and strengthening your union. You'll go home with all the tools you need to build this campaign with your fellow union members! Snacks served at 5:30 pm, workshop begins at 6:00 pm and finishes at 8:00 pm. To RSVP click here and to spread the word on Facebook, click here.

With Premier Doug Ford officially sworn in last week, there's no time to lose in the fight for $15 and fairness. As we have been saying since the election, Ontario’s new government has no mandate to take away our $15 minimum wage.

60% of voters did NOT vote for Ford's plan to cancel the $15 minimum wage, and more than 40% of eligible voters did not vote at all. 

Doug Ford campaigned to be “for” the people. It is our job to remind the premier, his cabinet, and every MPP that we ARE the people and we expect, demand and deserve a $15 minimum wage and decent work for all.

Momentum is with us

Over the past six months, our network of $15 & Fairness supporters has doubled. Every day we are getting phone calls and emails from brand new people who want to get involved. Let's remember, that just 9 days after the provincial election, we succeeded in getting over 2,000 people to march from the Ministry of Labour to Queen's Park (read a recap of the June 16 Decent Work Rally here). 

Clearly, there is an incredible energy in our communities to defend the workplace rights we have won through grassroots organizing, and push for more! With 2 out 3 people in Ontario supporting a $15 minimum wage, imagine what we can accomplish if we continue our organizing on the ground.

Announcing the new petition (and other tools)

To amplify and mobilize our supporters, we have a new petition ready to go (download here). This is a really important tool! Petitions help us demonstrate to politicians just how much of a public support exists for a $15 minimum wage and fair labour laws (so they know to keep their hands off). But also, through the petition, we are able to invite every new person who signs it to come and join our campaign. In fact so many of you reading this email, joined our campaign by signing a petition.

Along with the petition, we also have new posters that can be printed on 11" x 17" paper and used to decorate the province, especially around the offices of Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs). Let's put as many of these posters up as possible, to send a clear message to the new government: WE are the people, and WE expect and demand paid sick days, equal pay for equal work, fair scheduling, union rights, and so much more!

Click here to access these and other new (11x17) posters 

Let's get organized!

In the weeks ahead, it is crucial that we keep the heat on Members of Provincial Parliament. It is not an option to wait until the provincial legislature convenes, we must act now.

• Spread the word: Our rights at work are at stake but not everyone is aware of this. Help spread the word by talking to your friends, co-workers and family members. Better yet, use the petition as a conversation tool and ask them to sign if they agree with you.

Download the new $15 & Fairness petition (legal size paper)

• Organize a local petitioning action: Grab a friend and head to a busy intersection in your neighbourhood to talk to other residents and ask them to sign the $15 & Fairness petition. After you are done, either mail the petition to the campaign office or drop them off at your local MPP's office (make sure to photocopy them first though, and cut off the personal contact details before you deliver them).
  .
• Ask your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) to be a decent work champion: 30 MPPs have already signed our pledge to be a decent work champion. Let's encourage others to do the same. Share this link with your local representative to invite them to sign on.
  
  
• Order a lawn or a window sign: The election may be over, but $15 & Fairness lawn signs stay in the ground! Help us greet newly elected MPPs by decorating our neighbourhoods with window and lawn signs. You can order these signs as well as banners here. If you are a member of a community organization, health centre, union local or place of worship, please ask whether they would like to take and display a banner too!

Join us at an upcoming event:

More events are being confirmed. If you are organizing an event in your community please send us the details by filling out this handy form so we can promote it.

Tuesday, July 10th

Toronto Organizing Meeting
5:30 PM - 8:00 PM | 720 Spadina Ave, suite 223 | Click here for the map.
We are the people that premier-designate Doug Ford says he represents, so let’s get him prepared to add decent work to the agenda. Join us for this next organizing meeting to find out how we can make this happen and what is next in our campaign.
To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here. 

Saturday, July 14th

$15 & Fairness Contingent at People’s Rally
10:30 AM - 11:30 PM | North west corner of University & College | Click here for the map.
A big rally is going to be held at Queen’s Park in support of public services and the needs of Ontario communities. We are organizing a $15 & Fairness contingent with colorful banners and placards to participate and represent the issues of decent work. Join us, we will meet at 10:30 and the rally will start at 11:00. 
To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here. 

Sunday, July 15th

Discussion: Transformative Labour Organizing in Precarious Times
1:00 PM - 6:00 PM | 720 Spadina Ave, suite 223 | Click here for the map.
Join the Research Committee on Labour Movements (RC44labour.org) and the Workers’ Action Centre for a series of public discussions about transformative organizing efforts taking place in Canada, South Africa, South Korea and the United States. Let's rethink strategies for building movement power from the ground up. This is a FREE event, but space is limited so please RSVP.
To RSVP and learn more about the speakers, click here. 

Tuesday, July 17th

Toronto Phonebank 
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM | 720 Spadina Ave, suite 223 | Click here for the map.
Help us call the hundreds of $15 & Fairness supporters who have joined the campaign in recent weeks. We will thank them, provide an update and ask them to get involved by joining a future action. We will have sample scripts to support you, so come out and don’t be shy! Please let us know you will be there by RSVP’ing so we can make sure to get enough snacks!
To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here. 

Wednesday, July 18th

Discussion: Transformative Labour Organizing in Precarious Times
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM | 720 Spadina Ave, suite 223 | Click here for the map.
Join the Research Committee on Labour Movements (RC44labour.org) and the Workers’ Action Centre for a series of public discussions about transformative organizing efforts taking place in Canada, South Africa, South Korea and the United States. Let's rethink strategies for building movement power from the ground up. This is a FREE event, but space is limited so please RSVP.
To RSVP and learn more about the speakers, click here. 

Sunday, July 22nd

BRAMPTON
Brampton Organizing Meeting
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Brampton Soccer Centre | Click here for the map.
Thank you to everyone from Brampton who came out to the Rally for Decent Work! We are ready and organized to show premier-elect Doug Ford that WE are the people who he represents. Join us for this next organizing meeting to find out how we can make this happen and what is next in our campaign.
To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here. 

What an energy-packed Decent Work Rally we had last Saturday when nearly 2,000 people joined us on the streets of Toronto! Supporters like yourself travelled all the way from Ottawa, Hamilton, Brampton and so many other cities to come out to the biggest public demonstration since the Ontario election. Keeping in time to the tempo of Brazillian drums and beatbox rhythms we chanted in unison: “Hands off our $15 minimum wage,” “Hands off our paid sick days,” “Hands off equal pay for equal work.”

Check out more photos from the rally

When Doug Ford was running to be the leader of the Conservative Party, he campaigned on cancelling the $15 minimum wage, and implementing a tax cut instead. Economists have exposed that a tax cut would only save minimum wage earners $800 while an increase to $15 would put nearly $2,000 in the pockets of workers. A $15 minimum wage is clearly a better deal for workers and communities across the province are eagerly expecting for $15 to come into effect on January 1, 2019.

With over two-thirds of people in Ontario continuing to support a $15 minimum wage, we know that premier-designate Doug Ford has NO mandate to reverse our decent work laws. The diversity of the crowd that gathered at the Decent Work Rally last weekend was proof! Doctors, faith leaders, teachers, students, union activists and many workers all came together to say WE are the majority. 

Watch the CTV coverage of the rally

Let's also remember that 60% of voters did NOT vote for Doug Ford or his plan to scrap the $15 minimum wage at the election. And more than 40% of eligible voters did not vote at all. As for the people who voted for Doug Ford, we know many did so on this basis of his promise to be "for the people". As Yvette, a worker from Toronto, explained at the rally:

“If Doug Ford is truly for the people as he claims, he and his government will honour the commitments already made to the people of this province. In fact they will go beyond, because that is what our communities need.”

All of this makes the next few weeks critical! Let's make sure every Member of the Provincial Parliament feels the pressure to implement the labour law reforms we've won (including the right to equal pay for equal work, fair scheduling rules, paid sick days) and advocate for more. At the rally we acknowledged the 29 elected officials (28 from NDP and 1 from Green Party) who have already signed the $15 & Fairness pledge to be decent work champions (click here to see the full list). It is not too late for other MPPs to also sign on, please take a moment right now to reach out to your local representative.

Join us at a meeting near you! Let's use the summer to talk to our neighbours about why our rights are at stake, and collect signatures to show newly elected MPPs that their constituents expect them to deliver on decent work. Together, we can ensure $15 & Fairness for ALL! 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

More events are being confirmed. If you are organizing an event in your community please send us the details by filling out this handy form so we can promote it.

Sunday, June 24th

TORONTO
March in Toronto Pride on Sunday
1:45 PM - 5:00 PM | Meet outside Sherbourne Subway Station | Click here for the map.
Put on your most colorful, outrageous costumes and get ready for the fun! Fight for $15 & Fairness will be joining the Toronto Pride parade to demand fairness and protection for ALL workers. Come join us and don't forget to bring along water, a hat and sunscreen. We'll meet by the Sherbourne subway station entrance at 1:45 PM.
To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here.

Monday, June 25th

KINGSTON
Kingston Organizing Meeting
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM | Robert Sutherland Hall, Queen's University Campus | Click here for the map.
Any agenda to rollback our rights has to be resisted and defeated, and we aren't wasting any time. Our group is going to be defending our decent work gains, supporting workers against Bully Bosses, and standing with other communities who are fighting back in Kingston. Come out to our organizing meeting to be part of the fight for decent work and fairness in Ontario.
To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here. 

Tuesday, June 26th

SCARBOROUGH
Scarborough Organizing Meeting
5:30 PM - 8:00 PM | ACCES Employment Centre | Click here for the map.
Join us to plan our next steps for the Fight for $15 in Scarborough! With the provincial election and the decent work rally over, we need to stay organized and plan what we can do to ensure workers rights are protected and expanded in the next 4 years.
To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here.

Thursday, June 28th

HAMILTON
Hamilton Organizing Meeting
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM | CUPE Local 5167 office, 818 King St E | Click here for the map.
Coming off the momentum of the Decent Work Rally, Hamilton Fight for $15 will be hosting an open meeting to discuss strategy, organizing against austerity, and how we can ensure strong labour laws, fair wages and continue fighting for decent work. Everyone is welcome! For more information, email: [email protected]
To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here.

Wednesday, July 4th 

OTTAWA
Ottawa Organizing Meeting 
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM | 25OneCommunity | Click here for the map.
We are going to be promoting decent work all over Ottawa this summer and supporting workers that are fighting bully bosses, like Second Cup. Planned actions include pop-up workers rights clinics, a sign blitz, leafleting at festivals, and more! Come to our organizing meeting to share ideas and be a part of the action. For more information, email us: [email protected]
To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here. 

Tuesday, July 10th

TORONTO
Toronto Organizing Meeting
5:30 PM - 8:00 PM | 720 Spadina Ave | Click here for the map.
We are the people that premier-designate Doug Ford says he represents, so let’s get him prepared to add decent work to the agenda. Join us for this next organizing meeting to find out how we can make this happen and what is next in our campaign.
To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here. 

Sunday, July 22nd

BRAMPTON
Brampton Organizing Meeting
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Brampton Soccer Centre | Click here for the map.
Thank you to everyone from Brampton who came out to the Rally for Decent Work! We are ready and organized to show premier-elect Doug Ford that WE are the people who he represents. Join us for this next organizing meeting to find out how we can make this happen and what is next in our campaign.
To RSVP, click here & to spread the word on Facebook, click here.