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John Cartwright is the President of the Toronto & York Region Labour Council, representing 205,000 union members in Canada’s largest urban centre. A carpenter by trade, he was formerly the Business Manager of the Construction Trades Council and co-chair of the Metro Jobstart Coalition. John has served on the Boards of the Waterfront Regeneration Trust, the United Way Toronto, the Toronto 2008 Olympic Bid, and the Labour Education Centre.
Over the years he has helped develop the Campaign for Public Education, Public Transit for the Public Good, and the Toronto Waterwatch campaign to defend vital public services in Toronto. John has been deeply involved in apprenticeship and training issues, as well as crafting the “Green Jobs Strategy” for the Canadian Labour Congress. In 2007 he led the successful $10 Minimum Wage campaign in Ontario, and went on to initiate the Good Jobs for All Coalition and the subsequent conference on Good Green Jobs for All. Since becoming Labour Council President, John has worked with affiliated unions to craft an aggressive equity agenda for Toronto’s labour movement. The Council initiated ground-breaking Aboriginal/Workers of Colour (AWOC) Conferences, and has the most diverse leadership of any central labour body in the country. He is Co-Chair of the Toronto Community Benefits Network, which works to provide career opportunities for racialized communities on major infrastructure projects. John also sits on the National Board of the Council of Canadians. |
How Toronto could solve its revenue woes and fight climate change
I have just returned from the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP22) in Morocco, where thousands gathered to nudge forward the global agenda on climate action signed in Paris last year.
Mixed emotions were on display: delegates celebrating the Paris agreement were deeply shocked by Donald Trump's victory. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry tried to put a brave face on things, but we all understand that Trump's presidency means an enormous step backward in global efforts to tackle climate change. Read more ...
I have just returned from the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP22) in Morocco, where thousands gathered to nudge forward the global agenda on climate action signed in Paris last year.
Mixed emotions were on display: delegates celebrating the Paris agreement were deeply shocked by Donald Trump's victory. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry tried to put a brave face on things, but we all understand that Trump's presidency means an enormous step backward in global efforts to tackle climate change. Read more ...
Changing the Culture of Policing - letter to the editor (TorStar) from John Cartwright
Columnist Ed Keenan is right to challenge the TPA’s attitude to carding. The Toronto and York Region Labour Council, the voice of labour in Canada’s largest urban centre, has taken a strong stand on this issue.
We have gone on record with both the Toronto Police Services and through an open letter to Yasir Naqvi, minister of community safety and correctional services, calling for an end to all forms of race-based policing that disproportionately targets members of our communities based on their race, creed or ethnic origin. Read more ...
Columnist Ed Keenan is right to challenge the TPA’s attitude to carding. The Toronto and York Region Labour Council, the voice of labour in Canada’s largest urban centre, has taken a strong stand on this issue.
We have gone on record with both the Toronto Police Services and through an open letter to Yasir Naqvi, minister of community safety and correctional services, calling for an end to all forms of race-based policing that disproportionately targets members of our communities based on their race, creed or ethnic origin. Read more ...
REMAKING TORONTO for a POST PARIS WORLD
Toronto Star article - Labour Council President John Cartwright writes about the urgency of Climate Change and the need for immediate action from all levels of governance to build a sustainable world.
The world is finally starting to rise to the pressing challenge of climate change. That was the message of the United Nations Climate Conference (COP21) in Paris, where world leaders identified the urgency of the crisis, and signed an agreement calling on all nations to dramatically reduce greenhouse gases (GHG).
The agreement reached is not perfect. Some criticize COP21 for lacking legal teeth (though reality is that U.S. Republicans could and would torpedo anything stronger). Meanwhile, the labour movement, which I was representing as a delegate along with 35 of my colleagues, was unable to secure “just transition” language in the main document text, which was a setback for workers in the resource sectors. And the elephant in the room remains the goal of raising $100 billion annually to assist the green transition of developing countries. Read more ...
Toronto Star article - Labour Council President John Cartwright writes about the urgency of Climate Change and the need for immediate action from all levels of governance to build a sustainable world.
The world is finally starting to rise to the pressing challenge of climate change. That was the message of the United Nations Climate Conference (COP21) in Paris, where world leaders identified the urgency of the crisis, and signed an agreement calling on all nations to dramatically reduce greenhouse gases (GHG).
The agreement reached is not perfect. Some criticize COP21 for lacking legal teeth (though reality is that U.S. Republicans could and would torpedo anything stronger). Meanwhile, the labour movement, which I was representing as a delegate along with 35 of my colleagues, was unable to secure “just transition” language in the main document text, which was a setback for workers in the resource sectors. And the elephant in the room remains the goal of raising $100 billion annually to assist the green transition of developing countries. Read more ...
THERE ARE NO JOBS ON A DEAD PLANET
Huffington Post article - Labour Council President John Cartwright looks to showcase value of grassroots organizing and collective representation on key issues that matter to all Canadians: workplace justice, climate action and equity.
Most Canadians have entered 2016 with a sense of optimism -- rid of the Harper nastiness, they're ready for the "sunny days" of a Liberal government still in its honeymoon and should be rightly proud of the role played by our representatives at the COP21 Climate Summit in Paris.
At the same time, the economic picture is less certain. Canada's labour movement will continue fighting the corporate austerity agenda, as well as defending jobs and public assets. But in 2016, labour is also positioned to lead on key issues that matter to all Canadians: workplace justice, climate action and equity.
One of the most exciting campaigns in the last year was the fight for $15 and Fairness. Driven by community-labour coalitions across North America, the actions drew attention to the dramatic rise of income inequality and increase in precarious work.
More people now see that the economy will fail the next generation unless current trends are turned around. In Ontario, the ongoing Changing Workplace Review offers an opportunity to make reforms to the laws that govern the world of work.
Click here to read full article.
Huffington Post article - Labour Council President John Cartwright looks to showcase value of grassroots organizing and collective representation on key issues that matter to all Canadians: workplace justice, climate action and equity.
Most Canadians have entered 2016 with a sense of optimism -- rid of the Harper nastiness, they're ready for the "sunny days" of a Liberal government still in its honeymoon and should be rightly proud of the role played by our representatives at the COP21 Climate Summit in Paris.
At the same time, the economic picture is less certain. Canada's labour movement will continue fighting the corporate austerity agenda, as well as defending jobs and public assets. But in 2016, labour is also positioned to lead on key issues that matter to all Canadians: workplace justice, climate action and equity.
One of the most exciting campaigns in the last year was the fight for $15 and Fairness. Driven by community-labour coalitions across North America, the actions drew attention to the dramatic rise of income inequality and increase in precarious work.
More people now see that the economy will fail the next generation unless current trends are turned around. In Ontario, the ongoing Changing Workplace Review offers an opportunity to make reforms to the laws that govern the world of work.
Click here to read full article.
CARTWRIGHT TARGETS WINS FOR 2016
Labour Council President John Cartwright believes that 2016 can be a year of important victories for Canada’s labour movement. In this interview he speaks to four key goals for the New Year – workplace justice; climate action; equity and union renewal.
Q: Canadians seem to be feeling optimistic about the overall direction of the country as the New Year begins. What do you see happening this year?
A: I think this is a year with huge potential if our movement decides to act boldly and seize the opportunities in front of us. The most important is the once-in-a-generation chance to make serious reforms to the laws that govern work – the Employment Standards Act and Ontario Labour Relations Act. There is a big conversation happening about income inequality and increase in precarious work. We need to fix the laws to turn that around. People’s incomes and working conditions are tied to how strong unions are in each sector, and in union density in society as a whole.
Click here to read full interview
Labour Council President John Cartwright believes that 2016 can be a year of important victories for Canada’s labour movement. In this interview he speaks to four key goals for the New Year – workplace justice; climate action; equity and union renewal.
Q: Canadians seem to be feeling optimistic about the overall direction of the country as the New Year begins. What do you see happening this year?
A: I think this is a year with huge potential if our movement decides to act boldly and seize the opportunities in front of us. The most important is the once-in-a-generation chance to make serious reforms to the laws that govern work – the Employment Standards Act and Ontario Labour Relations Act. There is a big conversation happening about income inequality and increase in precarious work. We need to fix the laws to turn that around. People’s incomes and working conditions are tied to how strong unions are in each sector, and in union density in society as a whole.
Click here to read full interview
