Since our last update, WAC members and organizers have been relentless in our message to bad bosses and to the government: Stop Wage Theft. And the message is spreading in our communities as we speak to more and more workers who are fed up.
In a May episode, TVO’s The Rundown asks, “Is Wage Theft Rising in Ontario?” WAC organizer Jared Ong and Toronto Star immigration and work reporter Ghada Alsharif discuss the “power imbalance” that allows wage theft to continue.
Keep reading for the full interview, and for more updates.
Is Wage Theft Rising in Ontario?
WAC’s report, The Crisis of Wage Theft in Ontario, revealed that the government failed to get employers to pay $80 million in unpaid wages over the last decade. In this interview, Ghada Alsharif and Jared Ong explain how bad bosses get away with stealing wages, while the government fails to recover most of the money owed to workers.
Wage Theft in Canada’s Trucking Industry
Truck drivers and owner operators across Canada are calling for an end to wage theft, exploitation and unsafe work.
A recent Globe and Mail investigation reveals that “Ottawa has collected less than 20 per cent of the $6-million in payment orders issued to trucking firms since 2022.” Listen to reporter Sara Mojtehedzadeh talk about her and Mahima Singh’s investigation on The Decible, or read the full story at The Globe and Mail.
Sign the petition to #FixTruckingNow!
Healthcare For All: Norma’s Story
Norma is a migrant worker who has called Ontario home for 36 years. To this day, she is denied healthcare. In this short video, Norma says, “My biggest wish is to access dignified healthcare without feeling that each consult, each exam or each surgery is an unattainable luxury.”
Ontario can ensure we have truly universal healthcare for all, regardless of immigration status. Spread the word and sign the petition: Healthcare4all.ca
Building the Movement
At our annual general meeting in June, WAC members reviewed our work together in 2025. One major highlight is that $183,254 in unpaid wages were recovered for workers by workers! Here’s how we built worker power together: