PAID SICK DAYS SAVE LIVES
The new year has barely begun and already our hospitals are overwhelmed and Ontario has declared a state of emergency as a result of COVID-19 [1].
But Premier Doug Ford still refuses to implement paid sick days despite being repeatedly told that seamless access to adequate, permanent paid sick days is an essential tool in curbing the deadly consequences of this disease [2].
Workplaces are a key source of disease transmission. Why? Because workers are denied the essential protections that allow them to protect themselves and – by extension – our communities. Whether we are talking about the denial of paid sick days, about wages so low that health providers are forced into shelters because they can't find affordable housing, or inadequate hours that force part-time workers into multiple workplaces – workers need real protections now and forever [3].
Tuesday, January 19: Next online organizing meeting
Register NOW for the next online decent work organizing meeting on Tuesday, January 19 at 7:00 pm.
There's not a moment to lose in building the kind of movement we need to win permanent, employer-paid sick days for all. Come to the next organizing meeting and bring a friend! (And please be sure to register here so that you receive the Zoom link!)
Paid sick days - get the facts.
While over half of workers don't have paid sick days, those corporations least likely to provide employer-paid sick days are the corporations currently making stomach-churning profit. These are companies like Amazon, Walmart, Loblaws, and more who make their huge profits with a cheap-labour strategy and deny permanent paid sick days to their workforces.
These companies don't need more public subsidies, they need to be forced to protect workers. We have already seen how public subsidies have been abused to issue dividends to wealthy shareholders [4].
It is no surprise these same corporations are pushing back against the growing momentum for employer-paid sick days. They are making false claims that workers abuse paid sick days and employers can't afford them. But we know in jurisdictions where workers have access to as many as nine paid sick days, workers used an average of just three days and many used none.
The Decent Work and Health Network has compiled a fact sheet that shatters the myths that employers can't afford to provide paid sick days or that workers abuse them. Download it here.
SAVE THE DATES
Monthly decent work organizing meetings
For 2021, we will continue to meet once per month on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm. Upcoming meeting dates are as follows: February 23, March 23, and April 20.
Campaign re-launch - May 1
Circle the date and clear the decks. The campaign for decent work will be re-launching on May 1, 2021!
For the past several months, we have been busy talking with workers in low-wage, part-time, and precarious employment to find out what they want to fight for in the next phase of our campaign for decent work. From detailed one-on-one conversations to focus groups, we have been having conversations about what priorities need refreshing, what issues must be added to our agenda, and what changes continue to be urgently needed.
May 1 is known around the world as International Workers' Day to commemorate the fight for decent work. We can't think of a better day to relaunch our campaign.
We hope you'll join us!
-----------------------------------------
In the meantime, take care, stay safe, and see you at tomorrow's organizing meeting!
- Pam
On behalf of the Fight for $15 and Fairness team!
[1] Global News
[2] Huffington Post
[3] Ottawa Citizen
[4] CBC News