Yesterday, long-time WAC member Angel Reyes filed a lawsuit in small claims court against Canada Fibres Ltd. and United Staffing Services for wrongful dismissal. Angel worked for almost 5 years sorting garbage at Canada Fibres Ltd., Toronto’s largest recycling plant, through a temp agency, United Staffing Services. He earned minimum wage, had no benefits and… contine reading
Workers' Speak Out
Worker wins her stolen wages after 1 year & 5 months
Martha Jaramillo is a member of the Workers’ Action Centre. She came to us in the spring of 2014 when her wages went unpaid and she was fired. WAC helped Martha file a claim with the Ministry of Labour and, in October 2014, the Ministry issued an order to pay instructing her boss to pay… contine reading
Public consultations announced for labour law Review
The Ontario government has announced the dates and locations of the first public consultations being undertaken for its review of labour laws, the Changing Workplaces Review (CWR). The dates and locations are as follows: To register to make a presentation at the consultations, email CWR.SpecialAdvisors@ontario.ca or call 1-888-868-5844. These public consultations are an important opportunity… contine reading
Toronto Star series on precarious work: every Monday in May
As the government embarks on a review of the Employment Standards Act and Labour Relations Act in Ontario, the Toronto Star is doing a four-part series on some of the key issues facing workers in precarious and low-wage jobs in the province. The series features interviews with workers, many of them members of the Workers’… contine reading
WAC Members Speak Out, Win Improvements to Employment Laws
Thanks to years of hard work by WAC members and their allies, Bill 18 has been adopted by the Ontario Legislative Assembly. The bill introduces changes that will help curb wage theft, better protect temp agency workers and peg the minimum wage to annual increases in the cost of living. WAC members and allies made… contine reading
Bill 18: Workers Win Historic Improvements in Employment Standards
After years of organizing, members of the Workers’ Action Centre breathed a sigh of relief on November 6, 2014 as Members of Provincial Parliament gave final approval to legislation that will help curb wage theft, better protect temp agency workers, and peg the minimum wage to annual increases in the cost of living. “This Bill… contine reading
Doctors’ Orders: $14 for a healthy Ontario
On January 14th, WAC joined with the Campaign to Raise the Minimum Wage to call for a $14 minimum wage for a healthy Ontario. This month, health providers hosted a press conference at Queen’s Park and urged the government to improve health and well being in Ontario by raising the minimum wage to $14. At the press… contine reading
Unpaid wages finally paid
Alaa speaks out… I was searching for work, and saw an advertisement for a kitchen position at a restaurant. I called the owner and he told me to come to the place. When I went in, he asked me to work right away. I started work the next day at 5pm in the evening, and… contine reading
Working hard, fighting for unpaid wages
Gilma speaks out… In 2012, I worked for a temp agency as a supply Early Childhood Educator for a few months. I had to go to a temp agency even though the work is infrequent and its low-paid because in that moment I didn’t have any other options. I earned the minimum wage and I… contine reading
Premier Kathleen Wynne responds to study on precarious work
Premier Kathleen Wynne responded to a new study on precarious work, It’s More than Poverty, and committed to working together to find solutions. At a forum launching the report, Wynne told audiences: “if we want our industries and our economy to be doing well, we need people to be doing well. We need everyone to… contine reading