Short term, part time work is making it harder for us to collect unemployment insurance (EI) when we lose our jobs. Fewer people are working enough hours to qualify for EI according to Statistics Canada. Statistics Canada reports that there are more part time jobs being created than full time jobs. That is why EI… contine reading
Updates
Training Session on Workplace and Human Rights
Working with the Spanish speaking community? The Workers Action Centre and Black Creek Community Health Centre are organizing a free training session on workplace and human rights for front line workers delivering employment or settlement services on Monday November 12, 2012 from 1 – 4 pm. The training session will provide: Training on key areas… contine reading
Building solidarity for migrant worker rights
Migrant worker advocates shared common struggles for migrant workers rights at a lively gathering hosted by the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change (MWAC). Jose Sicajau worked in Canada as a migrant farmworker for four years. After standing up for another worker and speaking out about conditions at work, he was blacklisted from the program. Along… contine reading
Ontario needs a minimum wage workers can live on
My name is Angel, I have been a member of the Workers Action Centre for about four years. I want to talk about the minimum wage, because it’s my concern. My situation as a low-income worker is the same as the majority of people in Ontario, and Canada. Rent is high and increases every year,… contine reading
Law Commission of Ontario makes important recommendations to improve employment standards
WAC has released a policy brief in response to The Law Commission of Ontario’s Interim Report on Vulnerable Workers and Precarious Work. We encourage our community allies and supporters to provide feedback to the Law Commission of Ontario (LCO) by their deadline of October 1, 2012. The LCO’s Interim Report on Vulnerable Workers confirms that… contine reading
Tragic incident highlights lack of protection on the job
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Jayesh Prajapati who was killed after being hit by a car at a Shell station on Saturday. Family members of Mr. Prajapati have commented in the media that the cost of stolen gas had been deducted from his wages in previous incidents. This tragic incident highlights… contine reading
Ontario government confirms funding for proactive enforcement
On September 17, 2012, the Ministry of Labour announced $3 million for proactive enforcement of employment standards in Ontario workplaces. As we reported in May 2012, after a vibrant campaign by the Workers’ Action Centre to stop cuts to employment standards, the McGuinty government committed to restore funding to meet their 2008 Poverty Reduction Strategy… contine reading
New report argues migrant worker rights face systemic violations
Migrant workers face systemic exploitation and insecurity according to a new report released by the Metcalf Foundation today. The report entitled, Made in Canada: How the Law Constructs Migrant Workers’ Insecurity, illustrates how federal immigration laws and provincial employment laws intersect to create precarious working conditions and exploitation for migrant workers. Author Fay Faraday argues: “the factor that… contine reading
Working on the edge: 47% of workers live paycheque to paycheque
When 47% of workers live paycheque to paycheque, the impacts of wage theft can be devastating. A new survey by the Canadian Payroll Association found that almost half of those surveyed would be in financial difficulty if their pay cheque was delayed by even one week. Ontario had one of the highest percentages of workers… contine reading
Zellers workers deserve a good future at Target
WAC Members and staff joined a mass of supporters at the Target Fairness Rally today organized by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). The rally was held at Target Headquarters in Mississauga where corporate managers have decided to let go almost 10,000 Zeller’s workers when Target takes over in 2013. This is on top… contine reading