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THE ONTARIO WE WANT Hundreds of OPSEU activists march from their convention hall to join the day of action at Ontario’s Ministry of Labour. Photo: Two top photos by TAKING ACTION FOR $15 AND FAIRNESS: APRIL 15 MOBILIZES THOUSANDS OF UNIONIZED & NON-UNIONIZED WORKERS On April 15, thousands of unionized workers and non-unionized workers stood shoulder-toshoulder in a united campaign for “$15 and Fairness.” It was part of a province-wide day of action for labour law reform that was timed to rally public opinion for fairer labour laws in advance of the first report of the Changing Workplaces Review. In Toronto, OFL Officers Chris Buckley and Ahmad Gaied joined a rally one-thousand-strong at the Ontario Ministry of Labour for a guerilla ribbon-cutting celebration to rename the “Ministry of Labour” as the “Ministry of Decent Work.” Afterwards, the two officers attended similar actions at the Office of Finance Minister Charles Sousa and out front of the Greater Toronto Airport Authority at Pearson. Secretary-Treasurer Patty Coates hit the road to join campaign events in Kitchener and London, two of the OFL’s key target regions. Other actions took place in Barrie, Guelph, Hamilton, Kingston, North Bay, Oshawa, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Sudbury and Windsor. 6 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!” Just days before the action, the Ontario New Democrats gave a huge boost to the campaign by becoming the first political party in the province to endorse a $15 minimum wage. “There is no better time than now for our elected representatives to commit to a meaningful, decent work agenda,” said Pam Frache, provincial Fight for $15 & Fairness coordinator. “Whether SPRING 2016 • VOLUME 6, ISSUE 2 The Fight for $15 & Fairness is promoting a decent work agenda that includes fair scheduling; stronger regulation of temporary agencies; pro-active enforcement of employment laws; meaningful fines for labour law infractions; seven paid sick days; an end to contract flipping; and easier access to unions. Central to the campaign is the demand for a $15 minimum wage for all workers, with no exceptions. While labour activists took action in the streets, supporters were asked to join the action online by sending emails to every Member of Provincial Parliament using an online email blast tool at: www.15andfairness.org/workers-stories