(TORONTO, ON) – The Ontario Federation of Labour condemns the Ford government for rendering post-secondary education less accessible to low-income students and opposes the direct assault on student democracy. “The OFL stands in solidarity with students across the province. This is an affront to democracy and access to post-secondary education. Education is a right, not…
(TORONTO, ON) The Ontario Federation of Labour is joining the call of education unions in Ontario to support and properly fund Ontario’s public education systems. Education has the power to define and change a person’s life. The hard work and dedication of educators and support staff and their ability to shape the minds of our…
(TORONTO, ON) Women across Ontario are joining the global march for equality on Saturday, January 19, demanding change from the Ontario government. Women march to bring awareness to the changes needed to build a safer, more inclusive Ontario. Women are sending a clear message to policymakers that “We will not go back.” There are more…
Any moves by the Ford government to privatize health care in Ontario would be a disaster for this province. Unless our government improves publicly funded and delivered health care, they are condemning Ontarians to painful choices when they are at their most vulnerable. “Doug Ford has consistently undermined protections for Ontarians including the right to…
(TORONTO, ON) – The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) urges the Doug Ford government to take immediate action on the clear recommendation of Justice Michael Tulloch to put an end to the practice of arbitrary or “random” carding. Justice Tulloch confirmed what community and labour organizations have stated for years. The impacts of arbitrary police carding are felt…
1.7 million workers lost a $1/hr raise on New Year’s Day. For families across Ontario, that means hardship, working several part-time jobs to make ends meet, and hard choices about their day-to-day lives. New Year’s Day was scheduled to be the day minimum-wage workers in Ontario got a $1/hr raise to $15/hr, until the Ford…
Ontarians should be deeply concerned at the speed and the manner with which the Ford government brushes away Charter rights by using back-to-work legislation, says the Ontario Federation of Labour. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects the rights of all Canadians. “Charter rights must be upheld in all cases, they are fundamental to democracy,”…
Greetings: I am writing to invite your union to participate in the ninth year of our exciting March 8th Project developed by the OFL Women’s Committee celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD). This year’s theme is “POWER OF MANY.” Both the pewter pin and poster are a work of art that our members and community partners…
It’s been a busy year that took Ontario workers from the implementation of Bill 148 which brought improvements in workplace and labour laws and a $14 minimum wage, to a hard-fought election campaign and a new PC government that passed Bill 47, repealing the many gains labour and community had won and cancelling the scheduled…
(TORONTO, ON) – Many of the regulatory changes proposed today in Bill 66 compromise the health and safety of Ontarians, says the Ontario Federation of Labour. “From reclassifying employers so they can avoid hiring well-trained unionized workers for public infrastructure projects to increasing the number of children allowed in home-based daycare facilities Doug Ford is…
The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women remembers the 14 women killed at École Polytechnique de Montréal. Gender-based violence continues to take lives around the globe. A UN report shows that this year alone 50,000 women have been killed by an intimate partner. Every six days in Canada a woman loses…
Dear Premier Ford, Premier, I write today amidst growing concern in my community. The recent announcement that General Motors plans to close the Oshawa assembly plant in 2019 has hit my community hard. GM’s decision will have a devastating impact on GM workers, their families, and the city of Oshawa, but will also affect thousands…
(TORONTO, ON) The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) stands with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) as concerned community members hold solidarity actions across the province against back-to-work legislation. “Back-to-work legislation is unconstitutional and an attack on our democratic rights. Canadians are rightfully concerned at the speed and ease with which our government has…
(TORONTO, ON) By passing back-to-work legislation to end the strike by CUPW workers seeking fairer and safer working conditions, the federal government has undermined the constitutional rights of all Canadians. “The right to strike is enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. All Canadians should be concerned by the ease with which the government…
On November 25, it was reported that the GM plant in Oshawa is facing closure. This morning, after confirmation that there is no vehicle scheduled for production at the plant after 2019, GM workers walked off the job in advance of the company’s announcement. Workers know that although the employer holds the balance of power,…
(TORONTO, ON) – Yesterday’s announcement on changes to Ontario’s social assistance programs are continuing Ford’s attack on Ontario’s most vulnerable, says Ontario Federation of Labour. “Without a strong social safety net that is designed with compassion and inclusivity at its core, the policies outlined by the Ford government will only push people deeper into poverty,”…
(TORONTO, ON) – With the unconscionable passing of Bill 47, which takes away basic workplace rights from Ontarians, this government has shown again that it is governing for the few, making decisions without sufficient consultation and research that will drive millions of working Ontarians into poverty, say labour and community advocates. “The Ford government is…
Allyship with Trans* and Two-Spirit folks is essential to creating an inclusive and healthy world. To that end, the OFL has created info sheets on being an ally. You can download them at the links below: Trans* Allyship: Being an Out and Proud Trans* Ally Trans* Allyship: Talking About Pronouns Two-Spirit: Tips for Allyship November…
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau Prime Minister of Canada House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1A 0A6 Dear Prime Minister Trudeau, On behalf of the Ontario Federation of Labour, Canada’s largest provincial federation, and our 54 affiliates, we are calling on your government to initiate the changes needed at Canada Post that will bring about…
(TORONTO, ON) – An action will be held at the PC convention in protest of the Progressive Conservative Party’s continuing actions to reduce workers’ rights in Ontario. Since taking office, Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservative Party have made cuts to social assistance, cancelled important health curriculum, and are planning to take away basic workplace…