Profits are now at the highest level in Canadian history. But
much of this new wealth derives from working people who've
been relegated to McJobs. When companies cut wages or move jobs
offshore, and when governments privatize or outsource work to low wage
contractors, we all lose. Work needs to be rewarded with decent
wages and benefits.
The Federal Government should:
Fix the trade deals that caused thousands of manufacturing jobs to hemorrhage out of Canada, and refuse to enter into any future deals
that don't provide adequate protection for workers rights and environmental standards
Fix the tax loopholes that reward companies even when they shift jobs or investment overseas
Strengthen the investment in "green jobs" to meet our Kyoto commitments and provide employment for the next generation
Ensure the national childcare program builds a quality, accessible not-for-profit system which provides well-paid unionized jobs for
front-line workers
Ensure that grants for social service agencies fund core programs and keep up with the cost of living, and stop outsourcing training
and newcomer support to private contractors
Fix Employment Insurance so that it is once again a universal social program to help all workers between jobs*
The Provincial Government should:
Raise the minimum wage to $10 an hour immediately
Stop the outsourcing and privatization of good public sector jobs
Fix the labour laws by restoring all of the rights of working people that Mike Harris took away*
End the tendering fiasco in the homecare sector
Employers should:
Reward work by ensuring that every employee is paid decent wages and benefits for the work they do
Stop splitting off parts of their operations and assigning work to low-wage contractors or employment agencies
Restore and create more full-time positions as standard practice in order to stop the erosion of permanent good jobs
Respect the right of employees to unionize and refrain from intimidation or reprisals where workers want to exercise that right
Ensure that the benefits of research and technology is shared with employees
Embrace and support equity and respect of people from diverse backgrounds
Unions should:
Devote more resources to organizing the thousands of unrepresented workers who need unions to improve their lives
Reach out to all our diverse communities to utilize the wisdom and energy of every Canadian in our common goal of social justice
Share our strength to help the lowest paid workers bargain to raise their standards in every sector of the economy
We all should:
Work to restore and strengthen the "social wage" - social programs and services that make a huge difference in the quality of life
of working families
Unions
It was unions that put a stop to the 'sweatshops' of the past. Yet in Ontario today, weakened labour laws have deprived thousands of
workers of the ability to attain decent wages and benefits. From better protection for people wanting to organize into a union, to
honouring successor rights of cleaners and service workers, it doesn't cost anything for Liberal MPPs to restore the rights of
working people that Mike Harris took away. But it would make a real difference in raising standards for working families and their
communities.
Employment Insurance
EI used to be a universal social
program helping Canadians who
lost their jobs. But with changes
to Employment Insurance during
the 1990s, only 26 per cent of the
jobless in Toronto are now eligible
for benefi ts. If EI coverage is not
restored before the next economic
downturn, there will be a severe
impact on both working families
and the finances of our cities.
The Social Wage
Universal social programs - from healthcare to unemployment
insurance to pensions - are the product of
years of struggle. Past generations fought to ensure that
working people didn't have to rely on charity. They
forged a comprehensive system of social services that
provided the basis for justice and equality. In the face
of corporate pressure to downsize and "re-invent" government,
we need to assert that the social wage is key
to Canadian values of a just society3.
