LABOUR COUNCIL DELEGATES MEETING
Thursday, August 3, 7:30 p.m. OFL Building-Auditorium, 15 Gervais Dr.
Thursday, August 3, 7:30 p.m. OFL Building-Auditorium, 15 Gervais Dr.
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Organizing Trump Towers
From 1871 ...
LabourCouncil History 
Summer 2017
Spring 2017
Winter 2017
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BILL 148 IS GOOD FOR WORKERS AND IT COULD BE BETTER!
After an intense effort to fix outdated labour law and employment standards in Ontario, Bill 148 has been introduced and an increase to $15 minimum wage has been announced. These could be important gains – nearly every family has someone whose working life will be improved if Bill 148 passes. Time for everyone to get involved because EVERYONE DESERVES FAIRNESS@WORK. How and what can you do? Download the poster[PDF or JPEG], print it (choose Tabloid size 11x17), and put it up on as many notice boards as you can! Ask your friends, family, neighbours and co-workers to do the same. Toronto's Ethiopian & Eritrean communities fight for rights at work - InsideToronto article [July 2017]
As a unionized worker, Zemene has it better than some others in the Ethiopian community.Many toil for temp agencies, waiting by the phone to hear if they get a shift, he said. “They have no rights at all. If they’re injured, they’re gone.” Underground work is illegal, but happening in Toronto. People employ newcomers for less than Ontario’s minimum wage, and don’t pay taxes, said Zemene. “Agencies will say, ‘I’ll pay you $10, $8.’ People are working for $8 (an hour).” Read article. SOCIAL PLANNING TORONTO CALLS FOR UNIONIZATION [July 2017]
Desperately needed labour reform measures fall short for temporary, contract workers. New report backs stronger role for unions. The report, released today by Social Planning Toronto, focuses on the benefits that unionization provides for precarious workers, and follows Queen’s Park’s announcement committing to changes to the Employment Standards Act and Labour Relations Act. The new changes will include a $15 minimum wage, equal pay for equal work, and personal emergency leave provisions, but only extends one-step card-based certification to some workers, and provides no changes to allow workers to organize across their sector. The Union Advantage report is based on research as part of the Poverty and Employment Precarity in Southern Ontario (PEPSO) project. Click to read the report.  Analysis of Employment Standards Act by 15andFairness
click to download
KEEP UP THE FIGHT FOR FAIRNESS [June 2017]
The Ontario Government has announced plans to increase minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2019, raise employment standards and tighten enforcement, and make important changes to the Labour Relations Act. These reforms have been a long time coming, and are more than welcome. But they are not guaranteed yet! It was the struggles of working people and community allies across Ontario that won these reforms. Over the last two years, the government and MPPs came face-to-face with workers who suffered because of outdated employment standards and weak enforcement. The continent-wide Fight for $15, high profile strikes in Toronto and victories in New York, California and Alberta showed that change was possible. This summer the government will hold hearings on Bill 148, and we want to press for key improvements. But business will be fighting hard to eliminate some of the most crucial proposals that make it easier for workers to join a union, protect jobs from contract flipping, or get equal pay for part-time and temp agency workers. What’s the next step? Workers and their unions need to counter the intense business backlash that will unfold in the coming months. We have to lobby MPP’s and be out in the public showing why the laws need to be fixed, and challenging the corporate myths and threats. And we need to explain why the wins have not gone far enough and press for filling in the gaps. The Make it Fair and $15 and Fairness campaigns have had a real impact. But the fight is not over until legislation is passed and workers can actually exercise their rights in every workplace. Let’s keep up the fight for fairness! Read Labour Council June statement. Faith Leaders speak out for Fairness & Decent Work - ask your faith leader to sign today!  Click on image to watch ETT addressing Islamophobia in classrooms
ASKING LEADERS TO CHALLENGE RACISM & DISCRIMINATION [Jun2017]
Many of us would be more comfortable imagining that racism isn't a factor in our workplaces or communities. Very few Canadians want to own up to the prejudices we have grown up with, and talking about race can make even the most fair-minded person uneasy. Overcoming denial will be an important task for this work to succeed. The terrible murders of six men at prayer in Quebec reminds us that hateful ideas can lead to real consequences, as does the clear evidence outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Report and the ongoing concern about fairness in the criminal justice system. Denial is no longer an option. Read entire HuffPost article.
TORONTO CITY REVENUES (Dec 1, 2016)
Funding to create greatest public good with least burden for families After years of pretending that Canada’s largest city can deliver services, maintain aging infrastructure and tackle the effects of climate change without raising money, a new consensus is emerging on the need for new sources of city revenue. Read more... A HISTORIC MILESTONE - COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT (Dec 7, 2016)
The goal of workforce inclusion and diversity on the Eglinton Crosstown transit project. In a Declaration signed by Metrolinx, project contractor Crosslinx, the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development, Infrastructure Ontario, the United Way and the Toronto Community Benefits Network (TCBN), all agreed to a program of training and hiring workers from historically disadvantaged communities and equity seeking groups. The intent is to have apprentices and journeypersons from these groups perform ten percent of the project trade hours. This will result in over 300 careers for young people who otherwise may not have found the way to enter the skilled trades workforce. Click to read Press Release  click image to download
GREENPRINT working together for climate action
If our Earth is to be sustained for future generations, we must examine how we carry on our daily lives, and what impact we have on the environment. What we consume and produce, where we live, how we move from place to place, and how we spend our leisure time – all these factors add up to our personal and collective footprint on the Earth. Toronto, Canada’s largest urban centre, is an amazingly complex and sophisticated space. And every day, millions of tons of CO2 are emitted into the air. What are we going to do? How Toronto could lead the Climate Change charge in Canadian Cities Read article by John Cartwright in NationalObserver (Jun15, 2017) How Toronto could solve its revenue woes & fight climate change Read article by John Cartwright in NOWToronto (Nov24, 2016) Labour Council Strategic Plan 2016 to 2019
Over the next three years the Labour Council will focus on becoming more powerful as a movement in greater Toronto. Click to read entire Labour Council Strategic Plan. Diverse Workers Networks
Labour Council supports the development of networks of union members in diverse communities – Chinese, Filipino, Tamil, Somali and Ethiopian/Eritrean. If you are interested in getting involved you can sign up HERE or contact Kiruthiha Kulendiren at kkulendiren@labourcouncil.ca 416 441-3663 x 221. Click for the Chinese Network flyer click here, Filipino flyer click here and Tamil Flyer. Toronto Workers History Project (TWHP)
TWHP is a group of workers, unionists, professors, students, artists, teachers, librarians, educators, researchers, community activists, and retirees dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the history of working people in Toronto. We are committed to bringing to light the experiences of working people and their contributions as individuals and collectively to the building of this city, in the home, in the paid workplace, and in the community. For more info visit www.twhp.ca 
Strengthening our Unions through Equity
In September 2014, Labour Council released its latest contribution to the equity work in our movement. Entitled “A Leader’s Guide to Strengthen Unions: Moving Beyond Diversity… Towards Inclusion and Equity” the document is designed to be a tool for activists and leaders who want to build more powerful unions in greater Toronto, and across Canada. It is written by Jojo Geronimo, veteran labour educator former Executive Director of the Labour Education Centre. It's time to take the next step in advancing equity in every union's work. Click on image to download guide |
