#Vote148Now

[voicesofscarborough]

“ I have worked in a pharmaceutical environment for over 15 years, earning just over minimum wage. My husband works part-time as a general laborer and we have two young kids. When either of us gets sick, we either have to take time off without pay or work through our illness. We only get two weeks of vacation time for the whole year We support FIVE days of paid sick leave and more vacation pay. 

#148now

[voicesofscarborough]

Big Victory for Ontario Workers!

On November 22, 2017, Bill 148 entered its third reading and was passed by 67 votes in favour and 26 votes against. This is a HUGE victory for workers, who will enjoy a decent minimum wage starting at the beginning of 2018! We would like to thank everyone for their support, time and dedication; we could not have done it without your help! There are so many organizations such as $15 and Fairness, workers from grassroots organizations and labour unions, Voices of Scarborough, TEEILS and other legal clinics who have fought so hard to make Bill 148 a reality.

Once Bill 148 reaches royal assent:

·       The minimum wage will be raised to $14 an hour in January 2018; it will be $15 by January 1, 2019 and adjusted to cost of living yearly afterwards.

·       Every worker in Ontario will receive 10 days of emergency leave, 2 that will be paid

·       All workers will be paid equally for the same work done, including full-time, part-time, casual and temporary agency workers

·       There will be fair scheduling, workers will be paid 3 hours of pay for on-call employees who have not been called in to work, and for workers’ shifts that may get cancelled with less than 48 hours of notice

·       Make it easier for precarious workers to organize a union, this means that they will be able to have stronger protection for vulnerable workers.

Sethu Ram a long-time community activist from the grassroots level, and active leader of voices of Scarborough said “I have worked at low-level minimum wage jobs and temp-work for the last 18 years. I have never been able to afford living beyond a rooming house, maintain a healthy lifestyle, or climb out of poverty, despite working 3 jobs at a time. A low minimum wage means poverty! Therefore, I dedicated my time and advocated for a decent minimum wage and better protection temp workers for the past 18 years. It’s good see that our long fight has resulted in our politicians to take the issue seriously and the changes that happened in bill 148, means so much to vulnerable workers like me. We need to make sure that this bill is enforced, let’s continue to work together to build better workplaces and justice systems. ”