2022 - The Year in Review | The Ontario Federation of Labour

2022 – The Year in Review

Patty Coates
Patty Coates

President's Message

This year we proved it: when workers are united, we can’t be ignored. Ontarians are facing some of the most difficult struggles in decades, but we know it doesn’t have to be this way. Workers are unapologetically demanding better of our workplaces and our government. And we’re just getting started.

We’ve put together a snapshot of the ways that we fought for a better Ontario this year. But we know our work is far from done. That’s why, on January 28 we’re launching a campaign to fight the cost-of-living crisis. RSVP now.

Here are some of the things we did this year:

Held the Ford government to account on the Omicron Crisis

Ontario started 2022 with a worsening health care crisis. We jumped into action.

Demanded full and equal rights for Gig Workers

In February 2022, the Ford government released its portable benefits scheme that would entrench misclassification. We kept up the fight for full and equal rights for gig workers, whose struggles were highlighted in this article about the 2022 Ontario election.

Defended human rights protections for unionized workers

When the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO) launched a review that could have stripped unionized workers of their access to the Tribunal, we worked with the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) to successfully ensure workers’ voices were heard.

Organized for a Workers-First Agenda

In the lead-up to the provincial election, we got organized to make sure that workers’ issues were on the table: strong public services, a just recovery, justice for workers, healthy and safe workplaces, climate justice, equity, racial justice, and real reconciliation. Check out what it looked like in this coverage from CBC.

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Mobilized for an Ontario For All of Us

Once the writ dropped, the OFL launched a provincial election campaign to elect a party that would work For All of Us. We organized labour canvasses and trainings and wrote an op-ed countering the narrative about union support for Ford. Despite Ford’s re-election, our campaign helped re-elect many ONDP MPPs, helped the party retain its Official Opposition status, and held back a Liberal surge. Workers are now more committed than ever to building a fighting labour movement.

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Advocated for healthier and safer workplaces

Workers deserve to be kept healthy and safe on the job. That’s why we started the year with an op-ed on airborne transmission, urging the Ford government to do more to stop the spread of COVID-19. Here are some of the other ways we advocated for health and safety:

Built solidarity and stood up for Equity

The only way workers can truly prosper is in workplaces and communities free from oppression. This year we continued building solidarity across movements to make things better for everyone.

We held a rally for reproductive justice, and took part in Pride across the province with Pride is Political materials. Here are some of the other things we did:

 

Equal Pay

Equal Pay Day 2022

April 12, 2022

Demand action for women’s economic equality! Today, April 12th, marks Equal Pay Day. Equal Pay...
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Stood with striking workers

We know that it is essential that, as a labour movement, we support workers involved in labour disputes. Here are some of the ways we stood with striking workers this year:

Stay up-to-date with labour actions on our solidarity page here.

Demanded the repeal of Bill 124

In 2022, the attack on workers’ rights continued with Bill 124, a major contributor to the health care crisis. We kept up the fight to repeal the unconstitutional legislation.

Repeal Bill 124 NOW

July 12, 2022

Ford’s Conservatives have been re-elected after repeating the slogan that they would “work for workers”...
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Fought to protect workers’ rights, and won

When education workers stood their ground to demand better pay and working conditions, the Ford government retaliated with Bill 28, an unprecedented attack on workers’ rights. Workers united in full force to say: hands off workers’ rights!