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Workers Action Centre

Organizing for Fair Employment

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  • Know Your Rights
  • 知道你的权益
  • Conozca sus derechos
  • உங்கள் உரிமைகள்
  • Ogow xuquuqdaada
  • ਆਪਣੇ ਹੱਕਾਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਜਾਨਣ ਲਈ
  • আপনার অধিকার সম্পর্কে জানুন

Know Your Rights!

In light of COVID-19, the Workers’ Action Centre will not be open for in-person drop-ins or workshops. Our hotline will remain open.  If you have a workplace problem, please call us at 416-531-0778 (Toll-free: 1-855-531-0778), and leave a message asking to speak to someone in your language. All calls are confidential!

Our regular phone line hours are: Monday to Thursday, 12 pm to 5 pm
(We are closed on public holidays.)

HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY TO WIN STATUS FOR ALL

Government officials are making decisions that could give equal rights to 1.7 million migrants over the next few years. Amazing organizing by farmworkers, care workers, international students, undocumented people, frontline essential migrant workers and our allies have brought about this historic opportunity: Our organizing this summer could win permanent residency (PR) for all low-waged migrants and undocumented people! Your help is needed to make sure Parliament opens the door to PR for all migrants in Canada, not just a select few.

Show your solidarity:

  • Sign this petition and share it with at least three friends
  • Call the Prime Minister, Immigration Minister and your MP

The Workers’ Action Centre is a member of the Migrant Rights Network that is spearheading our regularization campaign. Many of our WAC members are migrant and undocumented workers who have risked their health at essential jobs and been denied equal access to healthcare and income support. That’s why it’s exciting to be part of the fight for regularization – for the chance to make sure no one gets left behind. Find more details in our update Status for All: Fight for Regularization this Summer!

ONTARIO’S 3 TEMPORARY PAID SICK DAYS EXTENDED

The Worker Income Protection Benefit (WIPB) allows employees to request only 3 paid sick days. It was introduced on April 29, 2021 and has been extended until March 31, 2023. There has been no increase or reset in the number of sick days offered and workers can only use these 3 days for COVID-related reasons. What workers really need are at least 10 permanent paid sick days to recover from COVID and any other illnesses or injuries. Please take a minute to remind Premier Ford that paid sick days save lives: Send an email demanding 10 permanent paid sick days. To help strengthen the movement for paid sick days and other essential protections, sign up for outreach actions at Justice4Workers.org/events_actions.

EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE UPDATE

Temporary measures for EI during the pandemic expired on September 24, 2022. We need to extend the temporary measures that make EI more accessible to those most in need. With many part-time, misclassified, migrant, undocumented and international student workers unable to receive these supports, these benefits leave too many workers out. Please read our recommendations and sign the petition to fix EI.

Check out some of our latest rights at work below, and don’t hesitate to give us a call if you need help defending any of them:

  • $15.50 general minimum wage
    • $14.60 minimum wage for students under 18
    • The minimum wage for liquor servers has been eliminated, so they now receive the general minimum wage rate.
    • There is an annual minimum wage adjustment each year on October 1st. These minimum wages will be adjusted upwards on October 1, 2023 according to the Consumer Price Index.
  • Job-protected leaves for all workers: You get 3 days if you are sick; 3 days for family responsibilities, such as an illness or urgent matter of a family member; and 2 days for bereavement.  Your employer is allowed to ask you for evidence in order to take these leaves. We no longer get any paid sick days. (We are fighting for at least 10 paid emergency leave days and 14 more during public health emergencies – join us by signing the petition for 10 permanent paid sick days!)
  • 1 week notice or pay in lieu of notice when temporary agency workers are terminated from assignments that were supposed to last 3 months or longer.
  • Temporary agencies and their client companies are jointly responsible for unpaid wages, overtime, public holiday pay and injuries.
  • Misclassification is illegal. If you are an employee who is being misclassified as self-employed, call us for help.
  • 3 weeks of vacation after 5 years of working at the same company.
  • Domestic or sexual violence leave of up to 10 individual days of leave and up to 15 weeks of leave if you or your child is experiencing or being threatened with domestic or sexual violence. The first 5 days of leave each year will be paid.

We are committed to defending and expanding these labour laws. Will you help us fight for workers’ rights? Here are a few things you can do:

  • When you have a problem at work, call us at 416-531-0778. All calls are free and confidential. We also have a toll-free number which is 1-855-531-0778.
  • Sign up for Action Alerts at the bottom of the page.
  • Read and share information about your rights at work.
  • Join and support the Justice for Workers campaign. Visit Justice4Workers.org.
  • Support the Workers’ Action Centre.

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Phone line

In light of COVID-19, the Workers’ Action Centre will not be open for in-person drop-ins or workshops. Our hotline will remain open! Please call us, leave a message, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

¿Necesita ayuda? Llámenos.
需要帮助,请打电话
সাহায্য চাই? কল করুন:
ਮਦਦ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਕਾਲ ਕਰੋ
உங்களிற்கு உதவி தேவைப்படுகின்றதா? எங்களை அழையுங்கள்.

Need help? Call us.

(416) 531-0778

1-855-531-0778

Monday 12 pm – 5 pm
Tuesday 12 pm – 5 pm
Wednesday 12 pm – 5 pm
Thursday 12 pm – 5 pm

Other Resources

Caregivers and Migrant Workers

Caregivers’ Action Centre
Care workers, including live-in or other healthcare / LTC workers can WhatsApp, call or text 647-782-6633
www.caregiversactioncentre.org

Migrant Workers Alliance for Change
WhatsApp, call or text:
Migrant farmworkers – 905-324-2840 (English) or 647-807-4722 (Spanish)
Migrant student workers – 647-858-2854
www.migrantworkersalliance.org

Health and Safety

IAVGO (Industrial Accident Victims’ Group of Ontario)
1-877-230-6311
www.iavgo.org

Injured Workers’ Consultants
416-461-2411
www.injuredworkersonline.org

Toronto Workers Health & Safety Legal Clinic
416-971-8832
www.workers-safety.ca

Human Rights

Ontario Human Rights Tribunal (HRTO)
1-866-598-0322
www.hrto.ca

Canadian Human Rights Commission
1-888-214-1090
www.chrc-ccdp.ca

Human Rights Legal Support Centre
1-866-625-5179
www.hrlsc.on.ca

Legal Information

Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)
www.yourlegalrights.on.ca
www.cleo.on.ca

Workplace Harassment

Assaulted Women’s Hotline
1-866-863-0511
www.awhl.org

Distress Centre
416-408-4357
www.torontodistresscentre.com

Sexual Harassment and Assault Resource Exchange (SHARE)
1-866-625-5179, press 5 for SHARE
www.hrlsc.on.ca/share/welcome

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