Bill 47, the Making Ontario Open for Business Act became the new reality for our workplace rights on January 1, 2019. This new legislation cancels the $15 minimum wage and takes away important protections such as paid sick days and equal pay for equal work. The government’s betrayal of working Ontarians is causing more and more people to join the fight for decent work.

Our members and allies expressed their disappointment with MPPs who voted for Bill 47 by calling and visiting their constituency offices. Across the province, we are also letting community members know which MPPs played a part in taking away our rights at work so that they can be held accountable. The Workers’ Action Centre, along with our many allies in the Fight for $15 & Fairness, will continue to challenge precarious work, strengthen our labour rights and continue the fight for decent wages and working conditions.

Starting January 1, 2019, these are some of your new rights at work:

$14 general minimum wage $13.15 minimum wage for students under 18 $12.20 minimum wage for liquor servers These minimum wages will be frozen until October 1, 2020 when they will increase according to inflation every year.

Job-protected leaves for all workers: You get 3 days if you are sick; 3 days for family responsibilities, such as an illness or urgent matter of a family member; and 2 days for bereavement. Your employer is allowed to ask you for evidence in order to take these leaves. We no longer get any paid sick days.

for all workers: You get 3 days if you are sick; 3 days for family responsibilities, such as an illness or urgent matter of a family member; and 2 days for bereavement. Your employer is allowed to ask you for evidence in order to take these leaves. We no longer get any paid sick days. 1 week notice or pay in lieu of notice when temporary agency workers are terminated from assignments that were supposed to last 3 months or longer.

when temporary agency workers are terminated from assignments that were supposed to last 3 months or longer. Temporary agencies and their client companies are jointly responsible for unpaid wages, overtime, public holiday pay and injuries.

for unpaid wages, overtime, public holiday pay and injuries. Misclassification is illegal. If you are an employee who is being misclassified as self-employed, call us for help.

If you are an employee who is being misclassified as self-employed, call us for help. 3 weeks of vacation after 5 years of working at the same company.

of working at the same company. Domestic or sexual violence leave of up to 10 individual days of leave and up to 15 weeks of leave if you or your child is experiencing or being threatened with domestic or sexual violence. The first 5 days of leave each year will be paid.

We are committed to defending and expanding these labour laws. As we begin this new year, please help us support workers in precarious jobs. Here are a few things you can do:

If you have a problem at work, call us at 416-531-0778 (or toll-free at 1-855-531-0778). All calls are free and confidential.

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By coming together to demand fair working conditions, workers have won major improvements in our rights. Together, we can win again. Thank you for standing with us to support workers’ rights.