We are at a crossroads yet again – Ontario’s temporary paid sick days program is set to expire at the end of the month. The Cabinet is currently discussing next steps. This means we can expect an announcement any day. Now is the time to keep up the pressure for 10 paid sick days. 

Simply extending the Worker Income Protection benefit (WIPB) isn’t going to cut it. The WIPB is far from what workers need – especially as we enter the seventh wave of the pandemic. The WIPB only provides three non-renewable sick days that workers have had to stretch over 468 days, and can only be used for COVID-related reasons. 

And, this inadequate program has already cost Ontarians more than $191 million – not including $43.7 million earmarked to pay Deloitte to administer the program – money that could be funding healthcare and public services. Paid sick days should be employer-paid, which would cost the government nothing. Instead, Premier Ford is using our tax dollars to subsidize business!

If Premier Ford and Labour Minister Monte McNaughton were truly “working for workers” then legislating 10 paid sick days would be the first order of business for the new government. Across Ontario, workers like yourself are taking action. We won paid sick days from this government once and we can certainly do it again.

Here are 4 actions you can take right now to win 10 paid sick days: 

1. Join an outreach action in your neighbourhood to spread the word
2. Phone your elected representatives
3. Put up these posters in your neighbourhood or near an MPPs constituency office 
4. Sign and share this online petition – using the hashtags: #Justice4Workers and #PaidSickDays 
   

Screenshot from the Justice for Workers Emergency Phone Zap for 10 Paid Sick Days on July 12, 2022

This summer we can win Status for All! 

We have a historic opportunity to win status for all this summer. In response to the inspiring organizing and leadership from migrants across the country, the federal government is moving forward with a regularization blitz for people with permanent residency. 

• Parliament has unanimously passed a motion asking the Immigration Minister to create a plan by September 8 to give permanent residency to low-waged migrants, including work and study permit holders; and
• Prime Minister Trudeau has asked the Immigration Minister to create a “regularization program”, which would give permanent resident status to undocumented people.

This summer, we can win a transformation of the immigration system so that all migrants can have equal rights and be with their families.

There will be pushback from bad bosses, landlords, private healthcare businesses, and big colleges who profit when migrants have fewer rights. So, to win we’ll need to keep fighting and be louder than them. 

Friend, can you: 

1. Join the Status for All Day of Action on Sunday, July 17 in Toronto, Montréal, and St. Catherines and/or use these materials to spread the word in your neighborhood and community
2. Sign the online petition and share it with the hashtags #StatusForAll and #Justice4Workers
3. Join the next Migrant Rights Network online organizing meeting for allies and supporters on Tuesday, July 19. Click here to RSVP

Photo Latinx Justice for Workers leaders holding the new Regularize Now! Equal Rights for All Migrants poster

Toronto Decent Work Organizing Meeting

We are restarting our monthly in-person organizing meetings in Toronto. Our first meeting will be on Tuesday, August 30 at 6 pm (refreshments at 5:30 pm). Then we’ll be meeting every four weeks on September 27, October 25, and November 22. 

The meeting will be at the Workers’ Action Centre located at 720 Spadina Avenue in the Community Organizing Room. 

You don’t want to miss this meeting. You’ll meet other Justice for Workers supporters and help plan the next steps for the campaign in your neighbourhood. 

Will you join the Toronto Decent Work Organizing Meeting on Tuesday, August 30?

Ontario Decent Work Organizing Meeting

Our next online provincial organizing meeting is on Tuesday, August 23 at 7 pm. This meeting will be an excellent opportunity for you to hear from decent work champions across the province and get ideas for how you can take action in your community.

Can we count on you to come and bring someone new with you? 

After August 23, we'll resume meeting every four weeks on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm. Please mark these upcoming dates in your calendars: September 20, October 18, and November 15.

Ontario Decent Work Organizing Meeting

Our next online provincial organizing meeting is on Tuesday, August 23 at 7 pm. This meeting will be an excellent opportunity for you to hear from decent work champions across the province and get ideas for how you can take action in your community.

Can we count on you to come and bring someone new with you? 

After August 23, we'll resume meeting every four weeks on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm. Please mark these upcoming dates in your calendars: September 20, October 18, and November 15.

Local actions and events

Scroll down to see upcoming local actions and events. And if you have an idea for an action or need support to organize an event in your community, please send us an email at [email protected]. 

Group photo from the Toronto Decent Work Picnic in Christie Pitts on June 18, 2022

For upcoming local events, please visit our Meetings & Events page here. And if you have an idea for an action or need support to organize an event in your community, please send us an email at [email protected].

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Can’t wait to see you on the streets this summer!