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 need help with a work problem, call us at 416-531-0778 (Toll-free: 1-855-531-0778), and ask to speak to someone in your language.
Regular phone line hours are in effect:
Monday 12 pm – 5 pm
Tuesday 12 pm – 5 pm
Wednesday 12 pm – 5 pm
Thursday 12 pm – 5 pm
If you leave a message, we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Find workers’ rights fact sheets here.
In 2019, workers across Ontario organized to defend important protections (see listed below) and win new ones in federally-regulated sectors (learn more about them here).
We know it is more crucial than ever for workers to take direct action to enforce their own rights at work, especially after the Ministry of Labour had an 11 million dollar funding cut this year. In 2020, we are committed to organizing even more Know Your Rights At Work training, outreach events in neighbourhoods across the province, and direct actions to challenge bad bosses. Read our update to learn about the power of direct actions when workers and community members come together to defend our rights.
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:
- $14 general minimum wage
- $13.15 minimum wage for students under 18
- $12.20 minimum wage for liquor servers
- These minimum wages will be frozen until October 1, 2020 when they will increase 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.
- 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 in 2019? 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 as we add more material in the coming weeks.
- Join and support the Fight for $15 and Fairness. Visit 15andFairness.org.
- Support the Workers’ Action Centre.