Help keep the momentum going! Join us Tuesday at 7 pm EDT

September 18's Day of Action was magnificent right across the country. 

We were inspired as migrants led rallies with thousands of people demanding the federal government regularize EVERYONE and grant full immigration status for ALL. With so many community and labour organizations joining the call for #StatusForAll, it has never been more true: "The people, united, will never be defeated." 
               

But the fight is not over. That's why we're counting on you to be at the next Justice for Workers organizing meeting on Tuesday, September 20 at 7:00 pm EDT.

Can you help us plan the next steps for our campaign?  

At Tuesday's meeting, we're planning to have 5 breakout groups:

1. Status for All 

We'll talk about next steps in our fight for rights, regularization and status for 1.7 million migrants in this country, including 500,000 undocumented persons.

If you haven't yet, please sign the Status for All petition.

2. Climate Justice 

Climate justice = Migrant justice = Justice for workers. Join this group to finalize plans to give a big push to promote the Global Climate Strike happening this Friday September 23. 

In Toronto, Justice for Workers will join the labour contingent on Friday, September 23 at 12:30 pm at the Steel Hall (25 Cecil Street). RSVP to let us know you're coming. 

3. Fix Employment Insurance

Employment insurance (EI) is inaccessible and inadequate for too many workers. But instead of making EI better, the federal government is planning to make it worse on September 25th. We can't let them get away with it! Join this group to strategize about how we can push the government to honour their promise to make EI better. 

If you haven't yet, please sign the petition to fix Employment Insurance.

4. Labour solidarity and justice for workers

Join this breakout group to organize the solidarity required for a workers' movement that cannot be divided. How we can we directly support workers who are fighting for their rights at work? And how do we build support for our Justice for Workers demands, like a $20 minimum wage; equal pay for equal work, and making it easier for workers to join unions? 

Take action now to support Safety Inspectors who are striking for safety for all of us.

5. Paid sick days

Peggy Sattler, NDP MPP for London West, has tabled Bill 4, Stay Home If You Are Sick Act, 2022. If passed, this bill will create legislation for 10 permanent paid sick days plus an additional 14 days during public health outbreaks like COVID.

This bill has passed the first reading. But we need to pull out all the stops to demand our local Members of Provincial Parliament vote in favour of the bill when it comes up for second reading when the Ontario Legislative Assembly resumes after October 25.

Thanks again for your part in the magnificent day of action for Status for All! To see more pictures from September 18, check out our pix on Facebook and on Instagram. And if you have photos to share, please post them and tag #StatusForAll and #Justice4Workers. We'd love to see them! 

Hope to see you at the Justice for Workers online organizing meeting this Tuesday at 7:00 pm! Don't forget to RSVP for Tuesday's organizing meeting to get the Zoom link.

Join Guelph Justice for Workers for our next in-person organizing meeting. Come share your thoughts as we decide how to build the fight for decent work. 

We want as many people as possible to let their local Members of Parliament (MPs) know it's urgent they extend the current EI Recovery Measures!

Here are three things you can do: 

1. Visit your MP office: to find your MP, click here and type in your postal code, then head to the office:

• Tape a message to the door, window, or wall of the office. You can download and print this poster which has the demands clearly listed. 
  If you don’t have a printer, make a hand-written sign saying:
  Extend current temporary EI rules NOW! We need a bridge to permanent improvements in our Employment Insurance system! 
• Take a selfie with your sign and the MP’s marquee. 

2. Call your MP and key decision-makers: Click here for everything you need to make 5 phone calls to key decision-makers.

3. Take action on social media (or email us a short report & any pictures to [email protected]) 

Post your pix from your MP office visit; post a selfie holding a hand-made sign; let everyone know you’ve called your MP; or share the EI petition!

Who to call: 

• Justin Trudeau: Prime Minister (613) 992-4211
• Chrystia Freeland: Finance Minister (613) 992-5234 or (416) 928-1451
• Carla Qualtrough: Workforce Development Minister (613) 992-2957 or (778) 593-4007
• Seamus O’Regan: Labour Minister (613) 992-0927 or (709) 772-4608
• Your own MP: Type your postal code here: www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/search

Background: 

• On September 24, all temporary measures that improved our access to EI will expire. It's urgent we extend the Recovery Measures as a bridge to permanent EI improvements.
• Most workers will face a huge jump in qualifying hours, from the current minimum of 420 for both Regular and Special Benefits (parental, sickness, etc) to 700 hours for Regular benefits and 600 hours for Special Benefits. 
• As of September 25, separation payments will be allocated at the beginning of a claim and treated as income, instead of at the end of a claim. 
• Workers of colour, women and others in precarious jobs are at particular risk.
• At the start of COVID, the federal government relaxed EI eligibility to improve access to emergency support for those most in need. Without these supports, it would have been much worse for workers and their families due to the COVID closures, lockdowns and layoffs. A Statistics Canada report shows the positive impact of an accessible EI system on workers' lives is undeniable.
• An inaccessible and inadequate EI program is another disaster for workers who need access to EI and not just when the next crisis hits. That's why we are demanding the federal government immediately extend the temporary EI measures and implement the following permanent changes. 

Suggested talking points: 

Hi. My name is ______________ .

I have heard that the current EI rules are set to revert back to the old pre-COVID system on Sept 25.  That’s wrong. We need to go forward, not backward! 

We got hit hard with layoffs and lost earnings during COVID. Now we face skyrocketing prices and more uncertainty about our jobs. 

We need you to extend the current EI rules. We need a bridge to the permanent improvements your government promised. We need changes like:

• A 360-hour or 12-week qualifying rule & 50 weeks of income support
• An end to harsh disqualification rules
• EI access for  migrant workers
• An end to “self-employed” misclassifications that leave too many workers without EI coverage 
• A higher weekly benefit rate and a guaranteed weekly minimum.

The government should also contribute to the EI Account to help pay for the improvements and to make sure EI is there for more of us now -- and when the next crisis hits.

My phone number is ________ and my mailing address is __________. 

I’d appreciate a response.

Next steps: 

• Ask your friends & co-workers to sign the petition here
• Saturday, September 10 Day of Action! Visit, call, tweet and/or tag your Member of Parliament
  • To find your MP, click here and enter your postal code: www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/search
• Join the next Justice for Workers organizing meeting on September 20 at 7:00 pm EST to keep fighting for an EI system that works for all of us! RSVP for the zoom link here

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Faisons 5 appels! 

• Justin Trudeau : Premier ministre 613 992-4211
• ChrystiaFreeland: Ministre des Finances 613 992-5234 ou 416 928-1451
• Carla Qualtrough: Ministre de l’Emploi et du Développement de la main-d'œuvre 613 992-2957 ou 778 593-4007  
• Seamus O’Regan: Ministre du Travail
  613 992-0927 ou 709 772-4608
• Votre députée ou député : Saisissez votre code postal ici : www.noscommunes.ca/Members/fr/search

Contexte

• Le 24 septembre, toutes les mesures temporaires qui ont facilité l'accès à l'assurance-emploi prendront fin. Il faut absolument prolonger les mesures de redressement pour faire le pont vers des améliorations permanentes de l'assurance-emploi.
• La plupart des travailleuses et travailleurs subiront une augmentation considérable du nombre d'heures admissibles, passant du minimum actuel de 420 heures pour les prestations régulières et spéciales (parentales, maladie, etc.) à 700 heures pour les prestations régulières et à 600 heures pour les prestations spéciales.
• À compter du 25 septembre, les indemnités de fin d’emploi seront réparties au début de la demande de prestations , plutôt qu'à la fin de la demande, et seront traitées comme un revenu.
• Les travailleuses et travailleurs de couleur, les femmes et les personnes occupant des emplois précaires sont particulièrement touchés.
• Au début de la COVID, le gouvernement fédéral a assoupli les conditions d'admissibilité à l'assurance-emploi dans le but d’améliorer l’accès au soutien d’urgence pour les personnes qui en ont le plus besoin. Sans cette aide, la situation aurait été bien pire pour les travailleuses et les travailleurs et leur famille en raison des fermetures, des confinements et des mises à pied attribuables à la COVID. Un rapport de Statistique Canada montre les effets bénéfiques d'un système d'assurance-emploi accessible sur la vie des travailleuses et des travailleurs, ce qui est un fait indéniable.
• Un régime d'assurance-emploi inaccessible et inadéquat est un désastre de plus pour les travailleuses et les travailleurs qui doivent avoir accès à l'assurance-emploi, et pas seulement lorsque la prochaine crise frappera. C'est pourquoi nous demandons au gouvernement fédéral de prolonger immédiatement les mesures temporaires de l'assurance-emploi et de mettre en œuvre les changements permanents suivants.

Points de discussion: 

Bonjour, mon nom est ______________ .

J'ai entendu dire que les règles actuelles de l'assurance-emploi allaient revenir à l'ancien système d'avant COVID à compter du 25 septembre.  C’est une erreur. Nous devons aller de l'avant, pas revenir en arrière!

Nous avons été durement touchés par les mises à pied et les pertes de revenus pendant la COVID. Nous sommes maintenant confrontés à la montée en flèche des prix et à une plus grande incertitude quant à nos emplois.

Il vous faut reconduire les règles actuelles de l'assurance-emploi. Il faut faire un pont vers les améliorations permanentes promises par votre gouvernement. Voici des exemples de changements que nous avons besoin que vous mettiez en place :

• Fixer le seuil d’admissibilité à 360 heures ou 12 semaines, et offrir un soutien du revenu pendant 50 semaines
• Mettre fin aux règles d’inadmissibilité trop sévères
• Garantir l’accès à l’assurance-emploi aux travailleuses et travailleurs migrants
• Mettre un terme aux erreurs de classification des « travailleurs autonomes » qui laissent trop de travailleuses et de travailleurs sans accès à l’assurance-emploi
• Améliorer le taux hebdomadaire de prestations et instaurer un plancher hebdomadaire garanti.

Le gouvernement doit aussi contribuer à la caisse de l’assurance-emploi afin de couvrir les frais d’amélioration et de garantir que l’assurance-emploi est accessible au plus grand nombre -- et quand la prochaine crise frappera.

Mon numéro de téléphone est le ________ et mon adresse courriel est __________.

J’apprécierais une réponse de votre part.

Prochaines étapes suggérées

1. Demandez à vos amis et à vos collègues de signer la pétition ici

2. Journée d’action le samedi 10 septembre! Visitez ou appelez votre députée ou député, envoyez-lui un gazouilli et/ou identifiez-le sur les médias sociaux.        

Pour trouver votre députée ou député, cliquez ici et saisissez votre code postal: www.noscommunes.ca/Members/fr/search

3. Joignez-vous à la prochaine rencontre de Justice for Workers le 20 septembre à 19 h (HNE)

Continuez à vous battre pour un régime d'assurance-emploi adapté à tous! RSVP ici pour le lien Zoom

Join us at the Bloor and Dufferin for this outreach blitz where we'll be collecting signatures on petitions and leafletting about the campaign. We'll be talking to workers, friends and neighbours about why we all need decent work.

On September 24, all temporary measures that improved our access to EI will expire. It's urgent we extend the Recovery Measures as a bridge to permanent EI improvements. Workers will otherwise face a huge jump in the current minimum of 420 qualifying hours for both Regular and Special Benefits (parental, sickness, etc), and the allocation/clawback of separation payments. Women, workers of colour, and others in precarious jobs are at particular risk.

At the start of COVID, the federal government relaxed EI eligibility to improve access to emergency support for those most in need. Without these supports, it would have been much worse for workers and their families due to the COVID closures, lockdowns and layoffs. As a Statistics Canada report shows, the positive impact of an accessible EI system on workers' lives is undeniable. [1]

An inaccessible and inadequate EI program is another disaster for workers who need access to EI now when the next crisis hits. That's why we are demanding the federal government immediately extend the temporary EI measures and implement the following permanent changes: 

• Expand EI access:
  • A 360-hour or 12-week qualifying rule with 50 weeks of income support
  • An end to harsh disqualification rules
  • Ensure migrant workers have access to EI
  • End misclassification, a practice where employers falsely label their employees as self-employed independent contractors to avoid paying their fair share of EI and CPP.
• Improve the weekly benefit rate and include a guaranteed weekly minimum
• Fund a new, annual federal government contribution to EI to help pay for improvements, provide adequate staffing with fair pay, and ensure EI acts as an effective economic stabilizer at times of crisis.

[1] "Pandemic benefits cushion losses for low-income earners and narrow income inequality." Statistics Canada. July 13th, 2022.

Please add your name to the petition to fix employment insurance:

We are having an action-packed summer with outreach blitzes, phone zaps and decent work picnics. And on August 8, to kick off the new Ontario Legislatively Assembly session, we joined the Ontario Federation of Labour to fill the front lawn of Queen’s Park. Together, we let Premier Doug Ford know Ontario needs fair wages, paid sick days, well-funded good quality public services, safe schools and an end to the healthcare crisis. 

We need your help to keep that momentum going. Join us for our next online decent work organizing meeting on Tuesday, August 23 at 7:00 pm EDT to plan the next round of actions. 

Read on to learn about the 4 decent work issues we’ll focus on for our breakout action groups at the August organizing meeting.

1) Safe Schools and Paid Sick Days

As we prepare for another school year, it is shocking we are still fighting to ensure all parents have paid sick days so they can stay home with sick children. 

Although the Ford government extended the WIPB (Worker Income Protection Benefit) for another 8 months, he did not increase the number of days available. In other words, those of us who already used the maximum 3 paid sick days between April 29, 2021, and today, have nothing under this extension.

Only having 3 paid sick days to stretch over more than 700 days is a sick joke when COVID-19 requires multiple days to isolate and multiple days to get vaccinated. And with the spread of monkeypox cases and seasonal flu, freezing and limiting paid sick days to only COVID reasons is a disaster waiting to happen.

That’s why health providers and education workers are joining forces to demand Safe Schools this September. We are demanding:

• 10 permanent paid sick days, plus an additional 14 days during public health outbreaks;
• Adequate funding to ensure the schools are safe and healthy for kids and staff;
• Fair wages and free collective bargaining.
  

2) Status for all

Under pressure from migrants and their allies, the federal government is considering a program to provide full immigration status to people who don’t have it. This is a huge development; without full and permanent immigration status, migrants don't have equal rights and protections under the law.

But the corporations who profit from precarious migrant labour are now actively lobbying the government to severely limit the number of people protected under any federal plan.

That’s why the Justice for Workers campaign is working with the Migrant Rights Network to collect thousands of petition signatures to show there is widespread support for status for all migrants. And on Sunday, September 18, Justice for Workers will join the Migrant Rights Network for a pan-Canadian Day of Action for Rights, Regularization, Status for All.

Watch the video below of 7 brave undocumented migrant workers who are stepping out of the shadows to share why their fight for Status For All is so important. Please share this video on Facebook and Twitter

3) Fix Employment Insurance

On September 24, all temporary measures that improved our access to EI will expire. At the start of COVID, the federal government relaxed EI eligibility to improve access to emergency support for those most in need. Without these supports, it would have been much worse for workers and their families due to the COVID closures, lockdowns and layoffs. As a Statistics Canada report shows, the positive impact of an accessible EI system on workers' lives is undeniable. [1]

An inaccessible and inadequate EI program is another disaster for workers who need access to EI now when the next crisis hits. That's why we are demanding the federal government immediately extend the temporary EI measures and implement the following permanent changes: 

• Expand EI access:
  • A 360-hour or 12-week qualifying rule with 50 weeks of income support
  • An end to harsh disqualification rules
  • Ensure migrant workers have access to EI 
  • End misclassification, a practice where employers falsely label their employees as self-employed independent contractors to avoid paying their fair share of EI and CPP.
• Improve the weekly benefit rate and include a guaranteed weekly minimum
• Fund a new, annual federal government contribution to EI to help pay for improvements, provide adequate staffing with fair pay, and ensure EI acts as an effective economic stabilizer at times of crisis.

4) Labour solidarity for decent work

Inflation is at a 30-year high. Yet for too many of us, our wages remain the same. That's why from construction to coffee shops, and from healthcare to education, Ontario workers are organizing to demand better. That's also why public sector workers are demanding an end to Bill 124 which freezes workers’ wages. Even scientists and researchers recently marched on Parliament Hill demanding livable wages. [2]

At our August Decent Work organizing meeting, we’ll be hosting a labour solidarity breakout group to discuss ways we can support all those who are fighting for fairness at Ontario workplaces. We want to keep building momentum for our demands by visiting picket lines and supporting other workers who are taking on bad bosses - including those without union protection. 

Now's the time to organize!

There are local events are coming online every week. Check out our website to find a decent work action near you, or to download decent work outreach materials such as leaflets, posters and fact sheets. 

See you at the August organizing meeting!

Jared Ong for Justice for Workers

[1] "Pandemic benefits cushion losses for low-income earners and narrow income inequality." Statistics Canada. July 13th, 2022. 

[2] "The future of science in Canada is at risk: Researchers call for pay raise" CTV News. August 11th, 2022.

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].

–

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

We are fighting for a $20 minimum wage; 10 paid sick days; increasing social assistance rates; status for all; equal pay; and real protections for frontline workers, including gig workers, temp agency workers, part-time workers and casual workers. 

Don’t miss this decent work organizing meeting. Let’s keep up the fight! 

We are fighting for a $20 minimum wage; 10 paid sick days; increasing social assistance rates; status for all; equal pay; and real protections for frontline workers, including gig workers, temp agency workers, part-time workers and casual workers. 

Don’t miss this decent work organizing meeting. Let’s keep up the fight! 

We are fighting for a $20 minimum wage; 10 paid sick days; increasing social assistance rates; status for all; equal pay; and real protections for frontline workers, including gig workers, temp agency workers, part-time workers and casual workers. 

Don’t miss this decent work organizing meeting. Let’s keep up the fight.

Doors open with refreshments at 5:30pm. Meeting starts at 6:00pm.