Ontario Minimum Wage
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TUESDAY! We need YOU at the decent work organizing meeting
Two years into the pandemic, frontline workers continue to work in dangerous, low-wage work without adequate paid sick days. And for those who lost their jobs during the Omicron crisis, federal income support remains totally inadequate and difficult to access.
It's clear our governments are more beholden to corporate interests than they are to protecting workers. Or as Economist Jim Stanford puts it:
"Bosses need workers to keep working, no matter what: after all, that’s what produces the value-added. And if workers must die in the process, so be it." [1]
Governments will only take action when they are more afraid of us than they are of the backlash from corporations. That's why we must continue fighting for decent work.
Can you join us this Tuesday, January 18 at 7 pm EST?
Over 400 joined our Omicron Emergency Town Hall
On January 11th, Justice for Workers co-hosted with the Workers' Action Centre and the Decent Work and Health Network an Emergency Town Hall on how the Omicron crisis is impacting workers. Over 400 people joined the meeting, and many more sent their regrets and asked if the meeting would be recorded. The good news is: if you missed the Town Hall, you can watch it now!
Don't miss the next provincial organizing meeting
Your participation at the next meeting is crucial. Here are the breakout groups we'll be hosting at Tuesday's meeting:
- Federal issues: Emergency Income Support; Status for All; Indigenous justice; Fix Employment Insurance for good
- Paid sick days: Keep fighting for provincial and federal laws
- Early Childhood Education: Organizing for safe and healthy child care from decent wages, workplace protections and paid sick days
- Occupational Health & Safety & Injured Workers: Section 21; Workers Safety and Insurance (Workers compensation)
- Organizing for decent work: Ending misclassification, Protections for gig workers; Equal pay for part-time, contract, and temp agency workers; Just cause protection for all
- ASL - Organizing for decent work: Workers at the Bob Rumball Centre for Excellence for the Deaf (CUPE 4263) in Milton will lead this breakout group on local organizing that will be conducted in American Sign Language and English
We hope you can join us next Tuesday, January 18 at 7 pm EST. The meeting will have ASL interpretation and Closed Captioning. Click here to RSVP.
Reinstate $500 in Emergency Income Support NOW!
Workers are being devastated by the loss of work and wages but the current Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit provides only $270 per week after tax for workers to survive on. And the new restrictions on access means it is even harder for workers to get supports than when the pandemic first broke.
Please call on the federal government to provide $500 in weekly income support to all those who need it. Help us put pressure on politicians and win tangible changes in the lives of workers.
Thank you for being an important part of the movement for decent work. I hope to see you at the organizing meeting next Tuesday!
Jared Ong
On behalf of the Justice for Workers campaign
WE ARE WINNING! From minimum wage hikes to legislating paid sick days - organizing works!
Thanks to you, there is dramatic progress in the fight for decent work. From raising the floor to a $20 minimum wage to legislating 10 permanent paid sick days, we are gaining real ground.
We hope you can celebrate with us on our final online Decent Work Organizing meeting of the year taking place on Tuesday, December 14 at 7:00 pm.
Minimum Wage Round-Up
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The Ontario New Democratic Party supports our demand for a $20 minimum wage. If elected, the NDP will raise the minimum wage to $16 on Oct. 1, 2022; $17 on May 1, 2023; $18 in 2024; $19 in 2025; and $20 in 2026, and then indexing wages to inflation beyond 2026.
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Ontario’s Conservative Premier Doug Ford was forced to reverse his 2018 decision to cancel our $15 minimum wage. Minimum-wage workers in Ontario will see a 4.5% wage increase on January 1, 2022. And the minimum wage is likely to become $15.60 in October 2022 due to annual cost of living adjustments.
This falls short of the $15.75 we would have had today if Ford had not cancelled $15 in 2018. And as the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives estimates, an average minimum wage earner lost more than $3,000 over the past three years. In total, this transferred $1.7 billion away from the lowest paid, essential workers to corporate profit. [1] -
The Federal Liberal government fulfilled its promise for a $15 minimum wage. This December 29th, there will be a federal minimum wage for the first time in 25 years. Under this legislation, the federal minimum wage will be either $15 or the provincial minimum wage where most work is done -- whichever is higher. This means raises for federal workers in 7 different provinces.
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The New Brunswick Conservative government announced a two-step, $2.00 minimum wage increase. The first $1 increase takes effect on April 1, 2022, and the second $1 increase takes effect on October 1, 2022. This 17% increase to $13.75 is not enough. But it does show that when workers organize, we can make a difference.
Paid Sick Days Round-Up
- Both the Ontario NDP and Liberals tabled legislation for 10 permanent, employer-paid sick days. But when the NDP's Bill-8 came to a vote, every Conservative MPP voted against paid sick days for the 27th time. We know the majority of Ontarians support paid sick days, so let's remind every Conservative MPP they voted against paid sick days this coming provincial election.
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The Federal Liberal government is prioritizing legislation for 10 paid sick days. Sadly, the Liberal's Bill C-3 allows employers to ask workers to get a sick note -- which defeats the purpose of having workers stay home when they are sick. And workers will only 'earn' 1 paid sick day for each month of work. Before the legislation is passed, we need you to tell your MP: we want seamlessly accessible 10 paid sick days immediately.
- The British Columbia NDP government announced 5 employer-paid sick days taking effect on January 1, 2022. This is an important first step and should inspire us to keep fighting until every worker has access to at least 10, employer-paid sick days.
There is real momentum for decent work across Canada. Thanks to you, fair wages, paid sick days, and safer workplaces will be central election issues in the months ahead. Please help us keep up the fight by joining our Justice for Workers organizing meeting on Tuesday, December 14 at 7:00 pm.
Decent Work Calendar
Tuesday, December 7
OTTAWA: Decent work organizing meeting | 7:00 pm | online
Join us for this online planning meeting where we will be discussing the next steps in the fight for decent work in the Ottawa area. From "Know your Workplace Rights" workshops to canvassing, and from MPP visits to phone zaps, let's organize for the year ahead!
RSVP to get the Zoom link and share on Facebook here
Wednesday, December 8
PAN-CANADIAN: Bring back CRB & Fix EI Phone Action | online
It's not too late for Justin Trudeau and Chrystia Freeland to do the right thing and restore CRB. But with only days left before parliament recesses, we need to act now to let our MP's know we expect them to do the right thing.
We will be hosting two phone actions, so choose the time that works best for you:
- 11:30 am to 12:15 pm EST (8:30 am to 9:15 am PST and 12:30 pm to 1:15 pm AST)
- 6:00 pm to 6:45 pm EST (3:00 pm to 3:45 pm PST and 7:00 to 7:45 pm AST)
RSVP to get the Zoom link or share the event on Facebook.
Sunday, December 12
LONDON: Decent work outreach blitz | 11:00 am | in person
Join us as we talk to people in London about 10 paid sick days, a $20 minimum wage, extending the CRB, safer working conditions and decent work for all! We'll meet at 1055 Wellington Rd. We will be at the parking lot outside the White Oaks Mall Walmart at 11:00 am.
RSVP to get a reminder email or RSVP and share on Facebook.
PEEL/BRAMPTON: Decent work holiday social | 12:00 noon | in person
Join us at Tomken Arena (4495 Tomken Road, Mississauga) to celebrate all the amazing organizing for decent work that workers have been doing in Peel. There will be raffles, games on decent work, loot bags for the kids and refreshments. Please make sure you let us know the ages of your children and how many people you are bringing so we can make sure there is enough food.
RSVP to get a reminder email and RSVP and share on Facebook
Tuesday, December 14
ONTARIO & Canada: Decent work organizing meeting | 7:00 pm EST | online
There is growing momentum for a $20 minimum wage; for 10 paid sick days plus an additional 2 weeks during pandemics; for equal pay; and for real protections for frontline workers, including gig workers, temp agency workers, part-time workers and casual workers. We are also fighting for justice for migrant workers; Indigenous sovereignty; and for adequate federal income supports (Canada Recovery Benefits and Employment Insurance).
RSVP to get the Zoom link and share on Facebook
Wednesday, December 15
BRAMPTON: Paid sick days holiday outreach | 5:00 pm | in person
We all want paid sick days and decent wages for the holidays. Join us at the bus terminal across from the JYSK store at 5:00 pm. We'll be handing out candy canes, collecting signatures on petitions, singing holiday songs and talking to our community about why workplace protections are essential for all of us, on the job or off. Can't wait to see you there!
RSVP to get a reminder email or RSVP and share on Facebook
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Now's the time to step up the fight!
Let us know how we can help you host a workshop, planning meeting, decent work social, phone zap, or an outreach action in your community. And for inspiration, don't miss the province-wide organizing meeting on December 14 at 7:00 pm (EST).
See you there!
Pam Frache
On behalf of Justice For Workers
[1] A $15 minimum wage: Workers paid a steep price for the three-year delay, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, November 8, 2021 https://monitormag.ca/articles/a-15-minimum-wage-workers-paid-a-steep-price-for-the-three-year-delay
