Your participation in todays’s day of action for paid sick days is crucial.
This is especially so in light of the federal government's announcement on temporary income support for COVID-related absences.
The announcement shows politicians are clearly feeling the heat to deliver on paid sick days. Our organizing is making a difference.
But we need to be crystal clear: while some workers will benefit from the temporary, COVID-related leave, these half-measures fall far short of what workers actually need to protect their own health -- and ours.
Click here to join the day of action on today.
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Here’s all we know about the government's plans:
The Government of Canada will fund a new temporary income support program, at an estimated cost of $1.1 billion. The new program will support workers who do not already have access to other paid sick leave. Where not already available, provinces and territories will establish job-protected sick leave, through regulation or legislation, that allows workers to take up to 10 days leave related to COVID-19.
No public subsidies for wealthy corporations.
The federal government is letting profitable corporations off the hook by paying the entire cost of the temporary measures from federal revenues.
Profitable corporations like Loblaws, Amazon, and Walmart can afford to provide adequate, permanent, paid sick days for all their frontline workers. The same is true for multinational franchise operations like Tim Hortons, McDonalds, and Burger King.
That's why we continue to fight to ensure employer-paid sick days are mandated through employment standard legislation provincially, and federally through the Canada Labour Code.
Temporary support is not enough.
Every worker needs employer-paid sick days -- not just during COVID 19, but on a permanent basis. We need paid sick days to care for sick children and elderly parents. We need paid sick days so that we can stay home to prevent the spread of seasonal flu or other infectious illnesses in workplaces, in classrooms and at child care centres. Click here to read the statement from health providers.
As it stands, the measures announced on Thursday will subsidize profitable corporations, yet leave millions of workers behind. Those few who do benefit will lose them as soon as the COVID crisis has passed.
We all deserve much better.
Let’s take inspiration from the ground breaking legislation just adopted in Colorado and keep fighting to make sure everyone is safe.
Click here to call your elected provincial representative
Register here to join the day of action on Saturday.
Scroll down for actions:
Nova Scotia:
Halifax - Saturday, July 18 at 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm (ADT)
Meet outside Sobeys, 2651 Windsor Street
Hosted by Halifax Workers' Action Centre
For more information or to RSVP and share on Facebook, click here.
Saskatchewan:
Online action
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
CLICK HERE TO SHARE IT ON FACEBOOK
British Columbia:
Vancouver - Saturday, July 18, at 11:00 am to 1:30 pm (PDT)
1070 - 1641 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC
Hosted by Retail Action Network
For more information or to RSVP and share on Facebook, click here.
Victoria - Saturday, July 18, at 11:00 am to 1:30 pm (PDT)
880 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC
Hosted by Retail Action Network
For more information or to RSVP and share on Facebook, click here.
Ontario:
Barrie - Saturday, July 18 at 11:30 to 1:00 pm (EDT)
Meridian Place, 30 Simcoe Street, Barrie, ON
Hosted by Fight for $15 and Fairness - Barrie
For more information or to RSVP and share on Facebook, click here.
King City - Saturday, July 18 at 11:30 to 12:00 noon (EDT)
Stephen Lecce’s MPP office - 2220 King Road, King City, ON
Hosted by Fight for $15 and Fairness and Decent Work and Health Network
For more information or to RSVP and share on Facebook, click here.
Toronto - Saturday, July 18 at 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm (EDT)
Robin Martin’s MPP office - 2882 Dufferin Street, Toronto, ON
Hosted by Fight for $15 and Fairness and Decent Work and Health Network
For more information and to RSVP and share on Facebook, click here.
Toronto - Saturday, July 18 at 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm (EDT)
Tim Hortons, 1084 Islington Ave, Toronto, ON
Hosted by Fight for $15 and Fairness and Decent Work and Health Network
For more information or to RSVP and share on Facebook, click here.
Paid sick days actions will also take place on Tuesday, July 21!
Scarborough - Tuesday, July 21 at 10:00 am to 11:30 am (EDT)
Christina Mitas’s MPP office - 2063 Lawrence Ave. East, Scarborough
Hosted by OPSEU Local 5111
For more information or to RSVP and share on Facebook, click here.
Scarborough - Tuesday, July 21 at 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm (EDT)
Raymond Cho’s MPP office - 4559 Sheppard Ave. East, Scarborough
Hosted by OPSEU Local 5111
For more information or to RSVP and share on Facebook, click here.
Join us for the next decent work organizing meeting on July 21!
Every four weeks, the Fight for $15 and Fairness, along with the Ontario Federation of Labour, host online organizing meetings. This is where we share experiences and plan actions - and we need your input!
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 21 at 7:00 pm EDT. Register now by clicking here. To RSVP and share on Facebook, click here.
Save the dates! The upcoming online organizing meetings are scheduled for August 18 at 7:00 pm EDT; September 15 at 7:00 pm EDT; and October 13 at 7:00 pm EDT.