TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 14, 2016) - On Friday, April 15, 2016, labour and community organizations across Ontario are uniting to call for decent work. These actions are taking place in advance of the first report of the province's Changing Workplaces Review. For over a year, two advisors appointed by the Ministry of Labour have been engaging Ontarians about needed changes to the laws that govern work and workplaces. Their first report is expected soon.
"Ontarians have big expectations for this review," said Pam Frache, provincial Fight for $15 & Fairness coordinator. "Whether it's parents trying to make ends meet on poverty wages, recent graduates struggling to pay student debt on short-term contracts, temp workers with no guarantee of hours, workers losing their wages and benefits when contracts flip, or unfair exemptions that leave some workers with no protection at all - more and more Ontarians are saying: Enough - we need changes now!"
The Fight for $15 & Fairness is calling for sweeping reforms, including fair scheduling; further regulating temporary agencies; investing in pro-active, public enforcement of employment laws; imposing meaningful fines for labour law infractions; legislating seven paid sick days; an end to contract flipping; easier access to unions and more. Central in the campaign is the demand for a $15 minimum wage for all workers, regardless of age, student status, job or area of work.
Community and labour groups are organizing actions in the following communities:
| Barrie |
| Visiting MPP Ann Hoggarth's office |
| 3:30 p.m. - Canadian Tire at 320 Bayfield Street |
| For media inquiries, contact Jessica Burnie 705-726-1722 x225 |
| Brampton |
| Airport Workers Rally GTAA |
| 3:00 p.m. - 3111 Convair Drive, Greater Toronto Airports Authority |
| For media inquiries, contact Dan Janssen, cell: 416-529-3376 |
| Hamilton |
| Action blitz |
| 12:00 p.m. - McDonald's at Delta on 1268 King Street East |
| For media inquiries, contact Caitlin Craven, cell: 289-683-0082 |
| Kingston |
| Action blitz |
| 10:00 a.m. - In front Stauffer Library at University and Union |
| For media inquiries, contact Doug Nesbitt, cell: 613-929-3464 |
| Visiting MPP Sophie Kiwala's office |
| 12:00 p.m. - 303 Bagot Street (Bagot & Princess) |
| For media inquiries, contact Tara Kainer 613-544-4525 x113 |
| Guelph |
| Action blitzes |
| 11:00 a.m. - Old Quebec Street Mall: main entrance |
| 3:30 p.m. - Willow West Mall: No Frills entrance. |
| For info and media inquiries, contact Janice Folk-Dawson, cell: 519-766-8376 |
| Kitchener/Waterloo |
| March |
| 11:30 a.m. - Victoria Park downtown Kitchener |
| For media inquiries, contact Marjorie-Ann Knight, cell: 519-277-6145 |
| London |
| Visiting MPP Deb Matthews' office |
| 4:00 p.m. - Richmond and Piccadilly |
| For media inquiries, contact Patti Dalton, cell: 519-494-3901 |
| Mississauga |
| Visiting MPP Charles Sousa's office |
| 4:00 p.m. - 120 Lakeshore Rd West (Port Credit) |
| For media inquiries, contact Jim McDowell, cell: 416-587-8809; Felipe Pareja, cell: 647-203-2611; or Scott O'Donohue, cell: 416-417-5561 |
| Niagara |
| Visiting MPP Jim Bradley's office |
| 10:00 a.m. - 2 Secord Drive, Unite 2, St Catharines |
| For media inquiries, contact Sue Hotte, cell: 905-932-1646 |
| North Bay |
| Sidewalk solidarity action |
| 12:30 p.m. - 120 Lakeshore Drive |
| For media inquiries, contact Jared Hunt, cell: 705-845-8265 |
| Oshawa |
| Visiting MPP Jennifer French's office |
| 3:00 p.m. - 78 Centre Street North, Unit 2 |
| For media inquiries, contact Tiffany Balducci, cell: 905-391-1571 |
| Ottawa |
| Rally & March |
| 12:00 p.m. - Oscar Peterson Statue - corner of Elgin St and Mackenzie King Bridge |
| For media inquiries, contact Karen Cocq, cell: 647-970-8464 |
| Peterborough |
| Rally & Visiting MPP Jeff Leal's office |
| 3:00 p.m. - 236 King Street |
| For info and media inquiries, contact Suzanne Wheeler, cell: 705-808-0922 |
| Sudbury |
| Visiting MPP Glenn Thibeault's office & March |
| 12:00 p.m. - 555 Barrydowne Road |
| For media inquiries contact, Nicole Beaulieu, cell: 705-470-3323 |
| Toronto Actions |
| Health provider leaflet blitz |
| 7:30 a.m. - Dufferin Subway Station, North-West corner of Bloor and Dufferin |
| For media inquiries contact, Kate Hayman, cell: 519-860-9866 and Danyaal Raza, cell: 647-779-4705 |
| Young workers & students feeder march |
| 11:45 a.m. - North-West corner of College and University |
| For media inquiries contact, Brynne Sinclair-Waters, cell: 647-226-7184 |
| OPSEU march to the Ministry of Labour |
| 12:00 p.m. - Metro Toronto Convention Centre |
| For media inquiries contact, Myles Magner, cell: 416-427-2606 |
| Rally at the Ministry of Labour |
| 12:30 p.m. - 400 University Avenue |
| For media inquiries contact, Nil Sendil, cell: 647-710-5795 |
| Airport Workers Rally GTAA |
| 3:00 p.m. - 3111 Convair Drive, Greater Toronto Airports Authority |
| For media inquiries, contact Dan Janssen, cell: 416-529-3376 |
Contact Information:
Fight for $15 & Fairness
Cell: 647-710-5795
nil@workersactioncentre.org
Joel Duff, Communications Coordinator
Ontario Federation of Labour
Cell: 416-707-0349
jduff@ofl.ca
(ENGLISH/FRENCH)
For French language interviews contact:
Nicole Beaulieu, cell: 705-470-3323
Roxanne Dubois, cell: 416-371-3716