Paid Sick Days: Back by Popular Demand
Paid sick days are back on the legislative agenda
Last year, the Ontario NDP broke ground by tabling legislation echoing our campaign demands for employer-paid sick days plus the 14 additional days during pandemics. Soon after, the Liberal's followed with their own paid sick days bill. In response, Doug Ford and his caucus voted down permanent paid sick days no less than 25 times.
But thanks to your support, paid sick days are back by popular demand. In the first week of the new fall legislative session, both the Ontario Liberals and the NDP tabled new paid sick day bills. (Bill 7, 10 Paid Sick Days for Ontario Workers Act, 2021 and Bill 8, Stay Home If You Are Sick Act, 2021). Both bills call for 10 permanent paid sick days with additional paid days during public health emergencies (10 and 14 days respectively).
74 days left to introduce federal paid sick days
During the Federal election, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau committed to legislate 10 permanent paid sick days for federally-regulated workers within 100 days of their re-election, and convene the provinces to close the paid sick days gap across the country.
Now's the time to fight for a comprehensive vision for paid sick days. We need you to join us at the next Decent Work Organizing Meeting on Tuesday, October 19 at 7 pm EDT. Let's keep up the pressure to legislate paid sick days on our own federal and provincial representatives.
Will you be at the October Decent Work Organizing meeting?
Extend CRB. Fix Employment Insurance.
The Canada Recovery Benefit is set to expire on October 23rd. If the CRB is allowed to end it will be devastating for thousands of families across Canada, especially in areas of the country where COVID cases are dangerously high.
Eliminating CRB will not address the real cause of the labour shortage which is the exodus of workers from jobs with poverty wages, unsafe working conditions, and unstable hours. That’s why we must extend CRB and indeed restore the weekly benefits to at least $500 per week.
We also need to fix Employment Insurance to be more accessible, adequate and inclusive. This means:
- Restoring the $500 floor for weekly benefits;
- Reducing the required insurable hours to 12 weeks of work or 360 hours;
- Making all EI benefits available for at least a year;
- Eliminating unfair rules that punish workers for leaving exploitative work;
- Ensuring access for migrant workers; and
- Ending misclassification so gig workers can access EI and other entitlements.
Take action now and send an email to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other federal representatives.
Solidarity with gig-workers!
Premier Doug Ford is soon set to ram through legislation that will make it legal for app-based companies like Uber to misclassify their workforce. If allowed to proceed, this law will create a new category of employee that will permanently deny gig workers full protection under the law.
Jennifer Scott, President of Gig Workers United will host a breakout group at our organizing meeting on Tuesday, October 19, where we'll plan next steps in the fight to protect gig workers. Please RSVP here to receive the Zoom link to the meeting.
Stop wage theft at Cargo County Trucking
Workers at Cargo County Trucking company are facing wage theft, illegal deductions and unsafe working conditions. But even after being ordered by the government to pay their workers what they are owed, this company continues to evade their legal obligations and refuses to budge.
Will you take 5 minutes to phone Cargo County to let them know you support the workers? Tell them you won’t stop speaking out until workers receive their full pay. We've provided phone numbers, background information and suggested speaking notes.
Upcoming Events and Actions
Saturday, October 16 - 3:00 pm EDT
SCARBOROUGH: Decent work outreach blitz
Malvern Community Recreation Centre (Bus Stop)
Nineteen months into the pandemic and Ontario still doesn’t have fair wages for frontline workers or 10 permanent paid sick days!. Join us in Scarborough at Sewells Rd. and Brenyon Way (near the bus stop outside Malvern Community Centre). We’ll be talking to community members and asking them to sign our decent work petition.
RSVP to let us know you're coming
Tuesday, October 19 - 7:00 pm
ONTARIO: Provincial Decent Work Organizing Meeting
Online
Join us at the October 19 decent work organizing meeting where we’ll be hosting an emergency phone action on extending CRB and fixing EI. We'll also have breakout groups to fight for paid sick days, gig-workers, and more
RSVP to receive the Zoom link
Friday, October 22
CANADA-WIDE: Paid sick days phone ZAP Online
Online
We need at least 10 permanent, universal, seamlessly accessible, fully-paid sick days now! No matter where you are across the country, we need your voice as we call for federal and provincial or territorial action.
RSVP to receive the Zoom link and Spread the word on Facebook here
Friday, October 22 - 6:00pm
ETOBICOKE: Paid sick days & Decent Work outreach blitz
Islington TTC Station
Join us for this outreach blitz in Etobicoke. We’ll be leading on the urgent need for paid sick days.
RSVP and share on Facebook to let us know you're coming
Sunday, October 24 - 11:00 am
BRAMPTON: Justice for Workers Organizing Meeting
Warehouse Workers’ Centre | 224 Rutherford Road South, Brampton
Join us on Sunday at 11 am to plan the next steps in the fight for justice for workers in Brampton. We will be doing a short training on how to meet with elected representatives so that we can be delivered the many signatures we have been collecting on our Decent Work petition.
RSVP and let us know you're coming and share on Facebook
Thursday, October 28 - 6:00 pm
ONTARIO: Decent Work and Health Network Organizing Meeting
Online
Paid sick days and decent work are fundamental health issues. That's why Health providers are meeting on Thursday, October 28 to plan next steps in winning at least 10 permanent paid sick days federally and provincially.
If you’re a health worker, please RSVP to get the Zoom Link
Thursday, November 4 - 6:00 pm
DURHAM REGION: Paid sick days phone Zap!
Online
The federal government is promising action on 10 paid sick days before the end of 2021. But we need also provincial legislation to protect the rest of us. We’ll be calling Durham Region elected officials to tell them we need 10 permanent, employer-paid sick days.
Saturday, November 6 - 12:00 noon
MILTON: Decent work planning meeting and outreach blitz
Milton Public Library Main Branch| 1010 Main Street East, Milton
We'll be meeting at 12 noon inside the Milton Public Library (Main Branch). Then we'll head out for another outreach blitz at 1:00 pm.
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See you at next Tuesday’s decent work organizing meeting! And if you can’t make it, join us next month for our November 16 organizing meeting.
Rajean - for the Justice for Workers team
It's Thanksgiving weekend. Will you be the next Decent Work Champion?
October 7 was World Day for Decent Work. But we know workers have to fight for better wages and working conditions every single day of the year.
Here at home, the Justice for Workers campaign (formerly the Fight for $15 and Fairness) is led by workers in low-wage, part-time, and unstable employment. By fighting and organizing together, we raised the minimum wage, forced governments to move on paid sick days, secured improvements for part-time and temp agency workers, and improved labour laws for millions of workers.
But battling bad bosses and big business takes resources.
That’s why, as we head into the Thanksgiving weekend, we are asking you to become a Decent Work Champion by making a $20 contribution each month.
From farm workers and grocery store workers to truck drivers and delivery workers, the people who are putting food on our tables this weekend deserve a $20 minimum wage and much better working conditions.
Will you be our next Decent Work Champion?
Having consistent monthly support allows us to plan ahead and expand the resources we need to make decent work for all a reality. This is especially important, as we gear up for a provincial election that's just eight months away!
No matter what you can contribute, every donation will be well-used and appreciated. Your monthly contribution will make all the difference.
Voted Against Paid Sick Days Poster
Click on the links below to download the leaflet:
Minimum wage adjustment leaflet
Click on the links below to download the leaflet:
10 Paid Sick Days in 100 Days
This Federal Election may have returned a Liberal minority government, but we won't allow it to return to the status quo. With the Liberal government pledging to take action on paid sick days within their first 100 days, we have a real opportunity to advance a decent work agenda.
It's time for 10 Paid Sick Days
Within 100 days of being elected, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to:
- Legislate 10 permanent, paid sick days for federally regulated workers
- Push provinces and territories to take action on legislating paid sick days
During the election, the NDP was the first federal political party to support 10 legislated paid sick days, and now that the Liberals are also championing this basic right, we can't let this opportunity go to waste. There are 85 days left for the government to make good on their promise, and we must hold them accountable.
Let's be clear: Paid sick days must be employer-paid
Profitable companies like Amazon, Walmart and Loblaws are refusing to provide paid sick days to their workers to protect their health. Instead, they are demanding public money be diverted from health care to subsidize their bottom line. We don’t need more corporate subsidies. We need wealthy corporations to pay their fair share with employer-paid sick days.
#MakeGigWorkDecentWork
Employers misclassify workers as independent contractors to deny them basic rights like minimum wage, and overtime and vacation pay. Misclassification also allows app-based corporations to avoid paying their fair share to workers' Employment Insurance and Canada Pension Plan.
Right now, Premier Doug Ford is preparing to table legislation that will make it legal for corporations like Uber to classify gig workers as independent contractors. Any law that legalizes a new sub-category of “workers” will legalize inequality. We cannot allow further Uberization of our workplaces.
On October 7th - the World Day for Decent Work - we join with gig workers to demand:
- An end to the misclassification of gig workers as independent contractors
- Full and equal rights under Ontario's Employment Standards Act and the Canada Labour Code.
In Toronto, we'll gather at Queen’s Park at 8 am to tell our Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) that it’s time to fully protect gig-workers' rights -- including the right to join unions.
If you can’t make it to Queen’s Park on October 7, help amplify this message on social media using the hashtags #MakeGigWorkDecentWork and #Justice4Workers. Please also tag Labour Minister Monte McNaughton @MonteMcNaughton and Premier Doug Ford @FordNation.
Stop wage theft at Cargo County
Throughout the pandemic, too many truck drivers have been misclassified as independent contractors, and are dealing with wage theft, illegal deductions, and unsafe working conditions.
But courageous workers from Cargo County trucking company are organizing against these employment rights violations.
Join us on Wednesday, October 6 at 12:00 noon for a phone zap to demand Cargo County pay their workers, stop illegal deductions and implement safer workplace practices.
Organize with us this October
Join us on Tuesday, October 19 at 7:00 pm for our monthly organizing meeting co-hosted with the Ontario Federation of Labour. We'll have breakout groups to organize for: 10 employer-paid sick days; solidarity with gig-workers and ending misclassification; fixing Employment Insurance and extending the Canada Recovery Benefits; and more.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIONS
Wednesday, October 6 - 12:00 noon
ONTARIO: Phone ZAP to support Cargo County truck drivers
Join us in calling Cargo County to demand they pay their workers, stop illegal deductions, and implement safer workplace practices.
Please click here to RSVP or RSVP and share on Facebook.
Thursday, October 7 - 8:00 am
ONTARIO: #MakeGigWorkDecentWork
We are joining forces with gig workers on October 7 to demand gig-work be decent work. In Toronto, we will be gathering for an action Queen’s Park at 8:00 am.
If you can't make it to Queen's Park, please amplify the message with #MakeGigWorkDecentWork and #Justice4Workers and tag Labour Minister Monte McNaughton @MonteMcNaughton and Premier Doug Ford @FordNation.
Tuesday, October 19 - 7:00 pm
ONTARIO: Provincial Decent Work Organizing Meeting
Join us online for our monthly provincial organizing meeting co-hosted by the Ontario Federation of Labour. We'll have breakout groups that include organizing the fighting for paid sick days and ending misclassification of gig-workers.
Please click here to RSVP or RSVP and share on Facebook
Friday, October 22 - 5:00 pm
ETOBICOKE: Paid sick days and decent work outreach blitz
Islington TTC Station
Join us for an outreach blitz in Etobicoke. We’ll be leading on the urgent need for paid sick days in the next 85 days.
Please click here to RSVP and share on Facebook
Sunday, October 24 - 11:00 am
BRAMPTON: Justice for Workers Organizing Meeting
Warehouse Workers’ Centre | 224 Rutherford Road South, Brampton
Join us to plan the fight for decent work in Brampton. We will be doing a short training on how to meet with elected representatives so that we can deliver the many signatures we are collecting on our petition for decent work.
Please click here to RSVP or RSVP and share on Facebook
Thursday, October 28 - 6:00 pm
DECENT WORK AND HEALTH NETWORK: Organizing Meeting
Paid sick days and decent work are fundamental health issues. Health providers are meeting on Thursday, October 28 to plan next steps in winning at least 10 permanent paid sick days federally and provincially. With Ford’s temporary paid sick day scheme set to expire at the end of 2021, the time to win paid sick days is now.
Thursday, November 4 - 6:00 pm
DURHAM REGION: Paid sick days phone ZAP!
With the 4th COVID wave peaking, it's urgent the Ontario government steps up to legislate paid sick days. From 6pm to 7pm on November 4th, we’ll be calling Durham Region elected officials to tell them we deserve at least 10 permanent, employer-paid sick days.
Please click here to RSVP or RSVP and share on Facebook
Saturday, November 6 - 12:00 noon
MILTON: Decent work planning meeting and outreach blitz
Milton Public Library (Main Branch) | 1010 Main Street East, Milton
We'll be meeting at 12 noon inside the Milton Public Library (Main Branch). Then we'll head out for a Decent Work outreach blitz at 1:00 pm.