WE ARE WINNING! From minimum wage hikes to legislating paid sick days - organizing works!

December 06, 2021

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. 

RSVP to December's Decent Work Organizing Meeting

Minimum Wage Round-Up

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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. 

  • 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.

RSVP to December's Decent Work Organizing Meeting

 

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