No time to lose! Let's amp up the fight for decent work!
The first weeks of 2022 give us a glimpse of the crises workers are facing.
With Omicron spreading fast, the health and economic crisis is intensifying. But governments at all levels are not responding adequately. We need to activate more people if we are to force governments to step up with the protections we need.
In this Action Update, we are summarizing the upcoming actions we planned at the January 18 decent work organizing meeting. Read on to see where you can plugin.
And if you missed the meeting, we recorded a few highlights from the meeting – including an exciting look at the year ahead!
Our next organizing meeting is coming up on February 15, so please RSVP now and bring a friend.
Sunday, January 30 - 7:00 pm EST
Town Hall: Migrants in Crisis! Migrants in Action
Migrants across Canada are being forced to keep going to work even while sick. Those of us who are migrants are working longer hours in more dangerous working conditions. But without full and permanent immigration status, we cannot access basic rights and services such as healthcare, emergency income support or workplace protections.
Our movement is stronger when we can all fight together. That’s why migrants are hosting a pan-Canadian Town Hall and why we are calling on our allies and fellow workers to join us.
Wednesday, February 2 - 11:30 am EST & 6:00 pm EST
Restore $500 in federal income support! Fix EI for good! EMERGENCY PHONE ACTION
Omicron has created a crisis on the frontlines. Workers and their families are getting sick in record numbers, and reduced demand and capacity restrictions are causing layoffs and lost shifts. Yet our federal government's response has been shockingly inadequate.
Nobody can survive on the $300 per week ($270 after-tax) on the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit (CWLB). And now that eviction moratoriums are being lifted in places like Ontario, many of the workers who have their lost incomes are now also facing homelessness.
We must demand everyone in need gets at least $500 weekly income support.
On Wednesday, February 2, we are hosting two emergency phone actions: 11:30 am (EST) and 6 pm (EST).
Can you join one of these emergency actions?
We have strength in numbers - please talk with your friends and co-workers and bring at least two more people with you.
Tuesday, February 15 - 7:00 pm EST
Decent work organizing meeting
Join us at the next monthly decent work online organizing meeting. Co-hosted by Justice for Workers and the Ontario Federation of Labour, we meet every four weeks to plan and coordinate local and provincial actions to win: a $20 minimum wage; at least 10 paid sick days plus 14 more during a pandemic; equal pay for equal work, regardless of our status as part-time, contract, casual, or temp agency workers; and protections on the job when we enforce our legal rights. We want health and safety on the job and decency for injured workers. We are also fighting for adequate federal income support for those of us forced out of work and for full immigration status for all of us.
Take a moment to let us know what kinds of action you’d like to take by completing this survey, so we can help you get it organized in your community or workplace.
Mark your calendars:
We meet every four weeks on Tuesday at 7:00 pm EST, so the next organizing meetings are scheduled for: March 15, April 12, May 10, and June 7.
February and March
Building Worker Power - Online workshops
Throughout February and March, Justice for Workers is hosting a series of online training sessions. Let’s share knowledge and build skills as more of us join the fight for decent work.
Here’s the plan:
Our Building Worker Power workshop consists of four modules (A, B, C, & D as described below). In February, we will host workshops A, B, and C and in March, we will host workshops A, B, and D. We will offer different configurations of the workshops depending on whether they are being offered on a Saturday or Sunday or a weeknight.
A) Getting Started: Reviewing the Agenda for Decent Work
- Why our agenda is a racial justice agenda
- Where our demands came from and why they matter to our communities
- Why do we build power and why can’t we just rely on elected representatives to do it for us?
B) Busting the Big Business BS
- Dealing with difficult questions from the minimum wage to how we make change
- Who creates wealth and how do we close the wealth equity gap?
- Common myths about raising the minimum wage
C) MPP visits as an organizing strategy
- Demonstrating our power from rallies to phone zaps and from petitions to MPP visits
- How do we show our power when we meet with MPPs?
- Know Your Rights workshops as organizing strategies to build workers’ confidence in the workplace
D) Outreach and follow-up (coming in March)
- Why follow-up is essential to growing our movement
- How do we build the confidence of new leaders?
- Learning, testing, assessing, and trying again
Here’s the calendar:
Saturday, February 5 | 10:00 am to 12:00 and 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm EST
WORKSHOP: Building Worker Power
Join us for this online workshop where we will be sharing knowledge and building skills to fight for decent work.
10:00 am to 12:00 pm: Module A
Getting Started: Reviewing the Agenda for Decent Work
12:00 pm to 12:30 pm: BREAK
12:30 pm to 2:00 pm: Choose either Module B or Module C
Busting the Big Business BS or
MPP visits as an organizing strategy
Wednesday, February 9 | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm EST
WORKSHOP: MPP visits as an organizing strategy
Join us for this online workshop where we will learn how and why we meet with MPPs, and why we don’t rely on them to do it for us. This is Module C of the Building Worker Power online training series.
Sunday, February 13 | 10:00 am to 12:00 and 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm
WORKSHOP: Building Worker Power
Join us for this online workshop where we will be sharing knowledge and building skills to fight for decent work.
10:00 am to 12:00 pm: Module A
Getting Started: Reviewing the Agenda for Decent Work
12:00 pm to 12:30 pm: BREAK
12:30 pm to 2:00 pm: Choose either Module B or Module C
Busting the Big Business BS or
MPP visits as an organizing strategy
Wednesday, February 23 | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm EST
WORKSHOP: Getting started: Reviewing the Agenda for Decent Work
Join us for this online workshop where we will learn where our decent work agenda came from, why it is fundamental to racial justice, and how these issues impact our communities. This is Module A of the Building Worker Power online training series.
Saturday, February 26 | 10:00 am to 12:00 and 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm EST
WORKSHOP: Building Worker Power
Join us for this online workshop where we will be sharing knowledge and building skills to fight for decent work.
10:00 am to 12:00 pm: Module A
Getting Started: Reviewing the Agenda for Decent Work
12:00 pm to 12:30 pm: BREAK
12:30 pm to 2:00 pm: Choose either Module B or Module C
Busting the Big Business BS or
MPP visits as an organizing strategy
Local actions and events:
Thursday, January 27 | 5:00 pm
HAMILTON Justice for Workers organizing meeting
Join us for this online organizing meeting where we’ll discuss the next steps in building our fight for decent work in Hamilton.
RSVP here for the Zoom link
Please also RSVP and share on Facebook
Saturday, January 29 | 1:00 pm
GUELPH Outreach action!
Outside No Frills in the Willow West Mall, 191 Silvercreek Parkway North
Click here for the exact location
Join us for this outreach action where we will be leafleting and signing people up to join the justice for workers campaign. We’ll meet outside No Frills in the Willow West Mall.
Please let us know you’re coming by emailing [email protected] or RSVP online here. Please also RSVP and share on Facebook
Monday, January 31 | 6:30 pm
LONDON Justice for Workers organizing meeting
Join us for this online organizing meeting where we’ll discuss the next steps in building our fight for decent work in London.
RSVP here for the Zoom link
Please also RSVP and share on Facebook
Sunday, February 6 | 2:00 pm
GUELPH Justice for Workers organizing meeting
Join us for this online organizing meeting where we’ll discuss the next steps in building our fight for decent work in Guelph.
RSVP here for the Zoom link
Please also RSVP and share on Facebook
Saturday & Sunday, February 12 & 13 | 11:00 am
OTTAWA Outreach action!
Outside Whole Foods at 951 Bank St
Click here for the exact location
Join us for an hour outside Whole Foods on Bank Street at 11:00 am on Saturday and/or Sunday for this outreach blitz where we'll be collecting signatures on petitions, and leafleting about our upcoming Know Your Rights at Work online training session. We'll be talking to workers, friends and neighbours about why we all need decent work.
RSVP online to let us know you’re coming: Click here for Saturday and here for Sunday
Please also RSVP and share on Facebook: Click here for Saturday and here for Sunday
Sunday, February 20 | 2:00 pm
GUELPH Know your rights at work - workshop
Employers take advantage when workers don’t have rights, don’t know what they are, or don’t know how to enforce them. Do you have questions about income support during the Omicron crisis? Do you have all the protection you need to stay safe at work? Have you been paid for all your hours? Do you have the paid sick days you need to care for yourself and your family? Jared Ong, an organizer for the Workers' Action Centre, will walk us through our rights at work and how to use them. Co-sponsored by the Guelph and District Labour Council. For more information please email [email protected].
RSVP here for the Zoom link
Please also RSVP and share on Facebook
Sunday, February 20 | 2:00 pm
OTTAWA Know your rights at work - workshop
Employers take advantage when workers don’t have rights, don’t know what they are, or don’t know how to enforce them. Do you have questions about income support during the Omicron crisis? Do you have all the protections you need to stay safe at work? Have you been paid for all your hours? Do you have the paid sick days you need to care for yourself and your family?
Join us for this online workshop where we will learn about our work and how to use them. Please RSVP to get the Zoom link.
RSVP here for the Zoom link
Please also RSVP and share on Facebook
Sunday, February 27 | 11:00 am
BRAMPTON Justice for Workers organizing meeting
Join us for this online organizing meeting where we’ll discuss the next steps in building our fight for decent work in Brampton.
RSVP here for the Zoom link
Please also RSVP and share on Facebook
Tuesday, March 1 | 7:00 pm
OTTAWA Justice for Workers organizing meeting
Join us for this online organizing meeting where we’ll discuss the next steps in building our fight for decent work in Ottawa.
RSVP here for the Zoom link
Please also RSVP and share on Facebook
--
Pam Frache on behalf of Justice for Workers
