ALL OUT MAY 1! Let's demand decent work for all!
Momentum is growing for the May 1 provincial day of action, with communities across Ontario planning local events and organizing feeder marches for larger rallies. May 1 will be an important day to kick off the provincial election: the larger the turnout on May 1, the more likely our issues will shape the June 2 provincial election.
Will you join us on Sunday, May 1 and amplify our decent work demands in your community?
Please visit our Resources page to download Justice for Workers May 1 posters and leaflets, customized for local actions.
With mild weather and May 1 around the corner, April is a crucial time to step up our outreach efforts. Read on to learn about some important organizing opportunities.
Building Worker Power Organizer Training
This Saturday, April 9 in Scarborough, Justice for Workers and the Workers’ Action Centre are hosting an in-person organizer training so we can hit the streets and talk to our co-workers about decent work. Please come and invite your friends, co-workers, and fellow May 1 organizers.
Registration and snacks at 9:30 am
Morning workshops 10:00 am to 12:00 pm - choose between:
- Agenda for decent work: Why decent work is a matter of racial justice
- Building the base: Effective outreach and follow-up
- Workshops in Chinese, Spanish and Tamil
Afternoon workshops 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm - choose between:
- Busting the Big Business BS
- MPP visits as an organizing strategy
- Workshops in Chinese, Spanish and Tamil
Provincial Justice for Workers Organizing Meetings
Normally, our monthly organizing meetings take place every four weeks, on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm. This month, however, our monthly meeting falls on Equal Pay Day and the Equal Pay Coalition has organized an important leaders’ debate on April 12 at 7:00 pm. So rather than hosting a competing event, we are going to skip our April meeting and encourage all Justice for Workers leaders, activists and supporters to attend the Equal Pay Leaders’ Debate.
That means our next Ontario-wide decent work organizing meeting will take place via Zoom on Tuesday, May 10 at 7:00 pm. This meeting will be a great opportunity to assess the impact of the May 1 mobilization and use the momentum to make sure we elect decent work champions across Ontario.
Our June organizing meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, June 7, will be perfectly timed for us to assess the election results and plan the next phase of the fight for justice for workers.
APRIL 19: Join the Activist Assembly
On Tuesday, April 19, join Justice for Workers at the OFL’s provincial Activist Assembly. This online assembly will give everyone a chance to hear about the exciting developments in communities across Ontario, and build even more momentum for the May 1 day of action.
In this election, let's make sure decent work issues are raised alongside other crucial issues like housing, child care, public transit, health care, education, decent income support, climate justice, migrant rights, justice for injured workers, and so much more.
Can you join us on April 19 at 6:00 pm?
Help organize wherever you are
Wherever you are in the province, you can help organize and mobilize for the May 1 day of action, for the June 2 provincial election, and beyond.
Here’s how:
- Would you like to put up some posters in your community?
- Would you like to help us phone other Justice for Workers supporters so they too know about all the exciting events coming up?
- Would you like to organize an outreach event in your community, and invite others to join the campaign for decent work?
Let us know what you’d like to do, and we’ll help you do it!
Decent Work Resources
Decent Work and Health Network: New Report
The Decent Work and Health Network released a report detailing the way in which precarious, low-wage jobs dramatically increased the spread of COVID and contributed to unnecessary deaths and sickness.
Please read and consider endorsing the report recommendations.
Racial justice primer
Justice for Workers has published this Primer on why the fight for decent work is a matter of racial justice. You can download it here, pick up copies in-person at the Scarborough training on Saturday, or order copies by emailing us at [email protected].
Minimum wage leaflet and poster
These tools debunk the myth that Premier Doug Ford has “raised the minimum wage.” It explains how we fought for and won not only a minimum wage increase, but also annual cost of living adjustments. But because Doug Ford cancelled our $15 minimum wage, workers lost thousands of dollars of income. We forced him to bring it back - but it’s too little, too late. Now the government is trying to take credit for improving the minimum wage, but we know Ford’s so-called increase is really a cut.
To download the new poster, click here
To download the new leaflet, click here
You may also order copies by emailing us at [email protected].
UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIONS
Thursday, April 7 | 5:00 pm
SCARBOROUGH: Outreach blitz
The provincial election is quickly approaching, and we want to make workers’ demands heard. If you are interested in fighting for a $20 minimum wage, paid sick days, better working conditions, equal pay, an end to misclassification and protections for gig workers, join us for this outreach blitz at the Scarborough Town Centre.
We will be petitioning and distributing leaflets with information on our decent work campaign demands, upcoming events, and ways to get involved.
Please RSVP to let us know you’re coming and to receive a reminder email.
Friday, April 8 | 5:30 pm
TORONTO: Davenport Outreach blitz
The provincial election is quickly approaching, and we want to make workers’ demands heard. If you are interested in fighting for a $20 minimum wage, paid sick days, better working conditions, equal pay, an end to misclassification and protections for gig workers, join us for this outreach blitz in the Davenport neighbourhood.
We will be petitioning and distributing leaflets with information on our Decent Work campaign demands, upcoming events, and ways to get involved.
We will meet at the Northwest corner of Dufferin and Bloor.
Please RSVP to let us know you’re coming and to receive a reminder email.
Sunday, April 10 | 2:00 pm
GUELPH: Decent Work Organizing Meeting
Join us as we discuss strategies for organizing in our community, plan future events, and discuss possible actions for the upcoming May 1st Workers Day of Action. This meeting will also be an opportunity for you to sign up for local actions.
Please also RSVP and share on Facebook.
Saturday, April 16 | 2:00 pm
BRAMPTON: Decent Work Outreach Blitz
Join us for this outreach blitz where we will be talking to our friends and neighbours about why we need a $20 minimum wage; 10 paid sick days; equal pay for part-time, contract and temp workers; fair scheduling rules and safe working conditions for all of us. We're also gearing up for a May 1 provincial day of action for a better Ontario. That means decent work for all, as well as affordable housing; well-funded health care and education; better income support for injured and disabled workers, and those surviving on social assistance; and so much more!
Please RSVP to let us know you’re coming and to receive a reminder email.
Please also RSVP and share on Facebook.
Saturday, April 16 | 11:00 am
OTTAWA: Decent Work Outreach Blitz
Join us for this outreach blitz where we will be talking to our friends and neighbours about why we need a $20 minimum wage; 10 paid sick days; equal pay for part-time, contract and temp workers; fair scheduling rules and safe working conditions for all of us! We're also gearing up for a May 1 provincial day of action for a better Ontario. That means decent work for all, as well as affordable housing; well-funded health care and education; better income support for injured and disabled workers, and those surviving on social assistance; and so much more!
Please RSVP to let us know you’re coming and to receive a reminder email.
Please also RSVP and share on Facebook.
Tuesday, April 19 | 6:00 pm
ONTARIO: Activist Assembly for May 1
Join Justice for Workers at the OFL Provincial Activist Assembly on Tuesday, April 19 at 6:00 pm.
We can't wait to hear all the plans from across Ontario. Since we last met on March 6, the number of local events planned has grown from seven to 17, and a growing number of groups and organizations are joining forces to demand a better Ontario.
Please RSVP to receive the Zoom link, then invite your friends and co-workers to join you!
Please also RSVP and share on Facebook.
Thursday, April 21 | 5:00 pm
HAMILTON: Decent Work Organizing Meeting
Join fellow Hamilton organizers as we discuss strategies for organizing in our community, plan future events, and discuss possible actions for the upcoming May 1st Workers Day of Action and June 2nd Provincial Election. This meeting will also be an opportunity for you to sign up for local actions.
Please RSVP to let us know you’re coming and to receive a reminder email.
Saturday, April 23 | 11:00 am
OTTAWA: Decent Work Outreach Blitz
Join us for this outreach blitz where we will be talking to our friends and neighbours about why we need a $20 minimum wage; 10 paid sick days; equal pay for part-time, contract and temp workers; fair scheduling rules and safe working conditions for all of us! We're also gearing up for a May 1 provincial day of action for a better Ontario. That means decent work for all, as well as affordable housing; well-funded health care and education; better income support for injured and disabled workers, and those surviving on social assistance; and so much more!
Please RSVP to let us know you’re coming and to receive a reminder email.
Please also RSVP and share on Facebook.
Saturday, April 23 | 10:30 am
TORONTO: Eglinton-Lawrence outreach for public education & decent work
Join the Ontario Parent Action Network for this outreach action to demand fully-funded public education, with safe and healthy schools, quality education, small class sizes, staffed by educators and workers with decent wages, including paid sick days.
Sunday, April 24 | 11:00 am
BRAMPTON: Decent Work Organizing Meeting
Please join us on Sunday, April 24th for a meeting to talk about working conditions in Ontario, and how we can fight for better laws such as paid sick days, a higher minimum wage, and much more. We will discuss:
- How we can fight back against bad employers
- How we can reach more workers to let them know about their rights
- How we can lobby our MPPs to create better laws for workers
Important notes: Translation will be provided in Punjabi and Spanish. Everyone will be given an N95 mask. Children are welcome.
Please RSVP to let us know you’re coming and to receive a reminder email.
Tuesday, April 26 | 7:00 pm
OTTAWA: Decent Work Organizing Meeting
Join us as we discuss strategies for organizing in our community, plan future events, and discuss possible actions for the upcoming May 1st Workers Day of Action! This meeting will also be an opportunity for you to sign up for local actions.
Please RSVP for the Zoom link.
Please also RSVP and share on Facebook.
Sunday, May 1 | ALL DAY
ONTARIO DAY OF ACTION!
We all deserve better. We deserve to have decent wages, adequate hours and safe working conditions. We deserve affordable housing, proper health care and education, all the services we rely on. Every single one of us deserves enough income to live on, whether we are: working or in-between jobs; injured or disabled; retired or just starting out; sick or on parental leave. It’s our future, our fight -- let’s make it happen!
Save the date and RSVP to let us know you’re coming.
Wednesday, June 1
ONTARIO: Justice for Injured Workers Day
Save the date for this important mobilization to demand justice for injured workers. This year’s action will be particularly important as we head to the ballot box on June 2. Let’s make sure we elect candidates who support justice for injured workers.
For more information:
Fairness for Injured Workers (On Facebook)
Ontario Network of Injured Workers (On Facebook)
Tuesday, May 10 | 7:00 pm
ONTARIO: Justice for Workers organizing meeting
Join us for our online organizing meeting where we’ll discuss the next steps in building our fight for decent work.
Please RSVP for the Zoom link.
Thursday, June 2 | ALL DAY
ONTARIO ELECTION!
Let’s elect decent work champions in every riding!
Let's keep the momentum for May 1st going!
Pam Frache
- For the Justice for Workers Team
