Estina Sebastien-Geetan, a leader at the Workers’ Action Centre, gave an inspiring speech to over 1,000 delegates at the Ontario Federation of Labour Convention! Estina urged the labour movement to join our Stop Wage Theft campaign and to build solidarity across our struggles for fairness at work. Here is some of Estina’s speech: “We need… contine reading
Updates
Service Canada Office Closures causing serious delays for workers accessing EI
Accessing services is going to get a lot more difficult for workers needing EI. The Federal Government has announced a merger of Service Canada Centres from 120 to just 22 operating across the country over the next 3 years. There will be now only 6 processing centres in Ontario! The sites will be Richmond Hill… contine reading
Lillia stands up against wage theft and receives $2300 in unpaid wages!
Lilia had to fight for over a year, but she finally won her fight to be paid the minimum wage and be treated as an employee. When Lilia started working at a downtown cleaning company, she was told she had to start her own company to be paid. For many months, Lilia worked as an… contine reading
A Fair Day’s Pay: The Movement to End Wage Theft – strategies from our U.S. allies
Over the last decade, grassroots opposition to wage theft has grown dramatically across the United States. Wage theft, the illegal underpayment of wages primarily affects the working poor. It is widespread and occurs in various forms and industries. It is estimated that millions of low wage workers annually are not paid at legally required overtime… contine reading
Toronto Community Foundation “Vital Signs” highlights findings of WAC research report
This week the Toronto Community Foundation released its 2011 Vital Signs report. In their chapter on Work, the report highlights findings from the Workers’ Action Centre’s report Unpaid Wages, Unprotected Workers released in May 2011. Our report found that 33% of low-wage workers surveyed had experienced unpaid wages, and 22% had been paid less than… contine reading
WAC Members speak out about Wage Theft at Provincial All Candidates Meetings
WAC members from our Scarborough and Downtown Organizing Committees attended All Candidates Meetings across the city to ask provincial candidates from all parties what they will do, if elected, to Stop Wage Theft! Members also handed each candidate a copy of our report “Unpaid Wages, Unprotected Workers”, which exposes a reality of work for many… contine reading
Wage Theft Video 4 – Outdated Laws, No Enforcement are failing Ontario’s Workers
Lilliane and Vivian worked endless hours for two separate families taking care of young children and disabled seniors. As live-in caregivers, they gave their care and love and a majority of their lives to people who became like family members to them over the years. Both were forced to leave their jobs, and heartbreakingly the… contine reading
Outdated Laws, No Enforcement are Failing Ontario’s Workers
Many caregivers give up their lives to care for other people’s children and elderly or ill family members. And unfortunately, it is an all too common reality that they don’t get paid for excess hours and other basic entitlements under the law. Hear Lilliane and Vivian tell their stories about standing up against Wage Theft… contine reading
“Cleaning Up” – Report highlights poor labour practices in commercial properties
Canadian commercial real estate companies and major commercial tenants have begun addressing persistently poor employment practices – but, according to a new report, there are still many that need to clean up. The report Cleaning Up, released by the Shareholder Association for Research and Education, evaluates nine commercial real estate companies and five major office… contine reading
Two Live-in Caregivers owed over $350,000 in unpaid wages and wrongful dismissal
Viviane and Lilliane fight back! Vivian worked 24 hours a day, 6 days a week caring for her elderly employer with medical problems and her two adult children with special needs. She worked 132 hours a week without any overtime pay. “I gave my life taking care of their family,” said Vivian. “They kept adding… contine reading