To download the OFL’s Winter Action Report, click here.
Message from the President:
Friends,
It has been a very busy few months here at the Ontario Federation of Labour. The end of 2016 saw the election of Donald Trump to the United States presidency. It’s tempting to look ahead and worry, but I’m confident that our movement will be able to meet whatever challenges come our way in the next while. I’m very pleased to announce that SEIU rejoined the Federation and we look forward to what we can accomplish together.
The recommendations from the Changing Workplaces Review are expected over the next few months; the government has thus far committed to introduce legislation this year – changes to the Employment Standards Act and Labour Relations Act. In this Action Report, you’ll find out how to get more involved in our Make It Fair campaign to ensure that the changes are what we want to see!
Back in October we held a Lobby Day at Queen’s Park, lobbying 62 MPPs about the Changing Workplaces Review, and the opportunity they have to make sure that laws in this province raise the bar for all Ontario workers. The Make It Fair campaign is planning teleconference trainings, forming workplace committees, and launching a new postcard campaign telling MPPs to be sure that any changes that come from the Changing Workplaces Review must create decent jobs and make it easier to join a union.See page 6 to find out how you can help win changes!
In January, we presented the OFL pre-budget submission to the government. We were clear: any new budget must provide the funding that will genuinely support building Ontarians up. To end racism in this province it must support the work of the Anti-Racism Directorate and ensure that it is funded to a level equivalent to other directorates. We also called on the government to pass Bill 26, which would provide designated paid leave for domestic and sexual violence survivors along with workplace training and other supports. The OFL urged officials to build on the work they began with the Gender Wage Gap Steering Committee recommendations.
The privatization agenda has not stopped and neither has our fight to protect Ontarians. I was there when workers came together to speak about stopping the sale of Hydro One while Ontario’s Premier Kathleen Wynne, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, andenergy executives met in downtown Toronto about public private partnerships.
Ontario needs decent jobs. Employers must treat workers fairly. I have visited picket lines across the province. Most recently I was in North Bay, supporting CUPE 2049 Children’s Aid Society workers. They asked for decent working conditions and for that, they were locked out of their workplace.
There are some very long-term, ongoing labour disruptions in Ontario right now and we must continue to work together to show solidarity to the workers who are striking or locked out, and keep working to Make It Fair. Together we can win gains for all Ontario workers.
In solidarity,
Chris Buckley
President of the Ontario Federation of Labour
