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.
