The more workers see themselves as leaders, the stronger the decent work movement gets. That’s why worker education, funded by the annual Workers’ Bowl,* is essential. Through our programs, workers develop leadership skills for the workplace and their communities.
And it doesn’t stop with them. Our leaders create ripples of working-class confidence every time they teach a worker about their rights. Just ask Madina, who is in this year’s Senior Leadership program.
Workers’ Action Centre: What made you want to learn more about workers’ rights?
Madina: Problems at work and the boss intimidating us made me wonder what to do. WAC showed me how to do something about all the unpaid wages and scheduling issues. Sometimes my friend wasn’t scheduled enough hours to justify going to work. Some only got two or three hours a day even though they had to travel two hours!
Now as a Senior Leader, I do outreach about these same problems. With other members, I let people know about workshops so they can learn their rights, and know they have support. They’re not alone; we are just like them.
What other workplace problems are people in your community facing, and how are you supporting them?
For my community, it’s hard to get a job. When they do, sometimes they are not kept on after three months. Some employers make the excuse that they have to let go of new hires, and those in temporary positions.
Lots of the workers we meet don’t yet know the names for the issues they face, like wage theft. Most are scared to lose their jobs, to not be able to pay rent.
But they are determined to find out what to do. So we hold workers’ rights workshops. We let them know they are not alone. The Know Your Rights and Wage Theft workshops are in Somali. Every two months we also do an Immigration Know Your Rights session.
How has the Senior Leadership program helped you grow?
I used to be a shy person. Now I am in the community so much, having conversations with people all the time. I’m used to making connections, so I’m not gonna be shy! I can lead many people, I can organize events, I can support workers. Speaking to workers about their rights gave me more confidence. It helps me a lot to be in the community, leading conversations about workers’ issues and what we can do.
What would you say to workers just starting the journey to learn and defend their rights?
You have a lot of support. Don’t be shy. Everything will be okay. I tell them I was just like them.
Thanks to support from people like you, WAC has been able to train leaders like Madina. We’re counting on your support again so we can make a bigger impact next year. Will you donate today to build collective strength for tomorrow?
* The Workers’ Bowl is our joint fundraiser with the Ontario Employment Education & Research Centre (OEERC). The OEERC supports community leadership development. All donations to the Workers’ Bowl go to the OEERC Education and Leadership Fund for Workers in Precarious Employment. Every dollar goes to creating collaborative community leadership development and educational projects with WAC. Tax receipts are available for donations of $10 or more.