Updates

On April 29, 2021, the Ontario government amended the Employment Standards Act to require employers to provide up to three days of “paid infectious disease emergency leave.” The COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit (WIPB) is a temporary program put in place by the government to respond to the overwhelming calls for paid sick days. While… contine reading

Estamos en la tercera ola de la pandemia y los lugares de trabajo son una fuente importante de propagación del COVID-19 y sus variantes. El Centro de Acción de los Trabajadores ha recibido llamadas de personas que han contraído el virus en el trabajo y no sabían qué hacer a continuación. La bodega de almacenaje… contine reading

Know your rights: Staying safe when stopped by the police and COVID enforcement officers The provincial government has given the power to police, by-law officers and special constables to enforce the current stay-at-home order.  The Workers Action Centre believes that the government should be providing paid sick days and other labour protections instead of increasing… contine reading

We’re in the third wave of the pandemic and workplaces are a significant source of the spread of COVID-19 and its variants. The Workers’ Action Centre has had calls from people who’ve caught the virus at work and didn’t know what to do next. Brampton’s Amazon warehouse, which was recently ordered closed for 14 days… contine reading

We have managed to gain ground on two critical issues facing workers right now: paid sick days and income recovery benefits. The federal government has just extended the Canada Recovery Benefits and Employment Insurance for workers. In Ontario, Bill 239 is up for a vote on March 1, putting paid sick days within reach for… contine reading

Right now, there is overwhelming support for paid sick days because you raised your voice! Workers, healthcare providers, medical officers and over 25 mayors in Ontario know that permanent, fully paid sick days can slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect our communities far into the future. In December, the Ontario NDP introduced Bill 239,… contine reading

For the past 10 months, workers in low-income jobs have faced uncertain times.  Even before the pandemic, many workers were struggling with wage theft, unfair working conditions and struggling with unsafe working conditions.  With the added health concerns of COVID-19 and mass unemployment, it’s become even harder.  That’s why we want to thank you for… contine reading

TORONTO, December 9, 2020 — Ontario’s frontline workers are outraged at Premier Doug Ford, Health Minister Christine Elliott, and Labour Minister Monte McNaughton who are getting a two-day head start on their own fully-paid, nine-week holiday break, while closing the door on legislating paid sick leave. Earlier, the Employment Standards Critic MPP Peggy Sattler had… contine reading

Precarious work became even more dangerous this year for thousands of low-wage, essential workers.  Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we found out just how little a “thank you” does for frontline workers struggling for basic rights in factories, warehouses, grocery stores, healthcare facilities and more.  What workers really need to get through these difficult times… contine reading