Did you know that minimum wage workers in Toronto need to work 79 hours just to afford a basic 1-bedroom apartment? No wonder so many people have to juggle multiple jobs to make ends meet. The reality for many of us in Ontario is that low-wages are a serious problem, while the violations of our rights and unsafe working conditions are far too common.
Now, more than ever before, we need education and leadership programs to help workers protect their rights in unstable, unfair workplaces. We are only a week away from the 8th annual fundraiser that supports the leadership development of workers at the Workers’ Action Centre who are experiencing precarious employment. Co-organized by OEERC*, this important event raises money to fund crucial programs such as free Know Your Rights workshops delivered throughout the province. At a time when bad bosses routinely make headlines for ignoring our rights, these workshops led by workers in their own languages can make a real difference in building workers’ confidence to speak out.
Please consider making a contribution. Click here to donate now. No amount is too small or too large.
This year, the Workers’ Bowl fundraiser is held in the spirit of the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919. At that time and now, workers of many races and ethnicities faced exploitation on the job, and had to rise up together for decent work.
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Right here, right now, the only way for workers to win is to unite to defend our rights and our dignity on the job.
When you support the Workers’ Bowl, the funds collected are put to good use on training that helps build the confidence of workers to not only learn about their rights, but also about how to do outreach activities in their neighbourhoods. As workers in the leadership programs reach out to other workers, they develop the skills to support those who may be facing problems at work, too.
So let’s bolster our movement by investing in the leadership of workers. Donations from supporters like you made it possible for us to hold 55 worker meetings in the GTA, give over 30 decent work presentations, and spread workers’ rights information at over 240 outreach events within a year. From London to Ottawa, in 13 cities and towns, we are supporting workers to become community leaders. Help us keep it up! Please contribute what money you can (tax receipts for donations of $10 or more), and ask your friends to support what we do at the Workers’ Action Centre.
*The Ontario Employment Education & Research Centre (OEERC) supports community leadership development, which strengthens the ability of diverse communities to know and protect their rights at work. All donations to the Workers’ Bowl will go to the OEERC Education and Leadership Fund for Workers in Precarious Employment to create collaborative community leadership development and educational projects with the Workers’ Action Centre.