In July, I wrote that we planned to get rid of our LP collection. Well, the deed is done. We turned this into this first round then this What’s left: classical, soundtracks, CD box sets,and albums Allan didn’t want to part with (front). and finally, this. We got much more money
Continue readingTag: toronto and mississauga
wmtc: what i liked, what i hated, and what i don’t understand: a list about my election campaign
I agreed to stand for election because it was an opportunity — an opportunity to bring a progressive perspective to a riding where those ideas are usually overlooked, and a personal opportunity to expand my own skills and experience. Overall, it was a positive experience — because it was so
Continue readingwmtc: from the 2018 cupe ontario library workers conference: libraries and the opioid crisis
I recently attended the CUPE Ontario Library Workers Conference, which has become a highlight of my year since I first attended (and was elected to the organizing committee) in 2015. It has eclipsed and replaced the OLA Superconference as the most relevant and enjoyable must-attend conference in my schedule. When
Continue readingwmtc: happy strike-iversary!
The City of Mississauga has a community recognition program, through which community groups can have their banner fly at City Hall for a day. When the program was announced, I said to a few of my union sisters, “I know a flag I’d like to see there…”. I was only
Continue readingwmtc: ontario librarians: should the ola support staffless libraries?
This week, the Toronto Public Library announced plans to open libraries with no staff. Not just no librarians — we’ve seen that in many places — but no staff whatsoever. This was bad enough, but we were further horrified to see that the Ontario Library Association, a membership-based organization that is
Continue readingwmtc: fun with bag signs: in which i am photographed removing garbage from my neighbourhood
Are there bag signs where you live?In Mississauga and perhaps most suburban places, people put up bag signs advertising services. The signs are cheap to buy and easy to post. They are also illegal. To me, they are the Nexus of Evil: advertising plus vi…
Continue readingwmtc: fight for 15 and fairness: brampton forum for decent work
After our members returned to work, but while I was still on staycation, I attended a community event organized by labour activists in Peel Region. It was a beautifully planned event, with music and food and lots of opportunities for participation.In O…
Continue readingwmtc: fight for 15 and fairness: brampton forum for decent work
After our members returned to work, but while I was still on staycation, I attended a community event organized by labour activists in Peel Region. It was a beautifully planned event, with music and food and lots of opportunities for participation.
In Ontario, the Fight for $15 & Fairness is focused on the Ontario Ministry of Labour’s Changing Workplaces Review. |
Each of the three keynote speakers was brilliant and revelatory. First, Gurjeet Sran, an economist from York University, blasted through the myth that raising the minimum wage hurts the economy. (In fact, raising the minimum wage actually helps the economy.) Sran also spoke about the pressing need to raise the corporate tax rate. Even though most people in the room were familiar with these arguments, it’s always good to brush up on facts and strengthen your knowledge.
Next, Monica Avero spoke about the fight for justice for workers at Toronto Pearson Airport. Avero is a Unifor member and belongs to the Toronto Airport Workers’ Council, an alliance of unionized and non-union airport workers. The conditions at Pearson — Canada’s largest workplace — are nothing short of shocking. Minimum wage pay, constant on-call hours, inhumane shift scheduling, and no guarantee of hours are the norm. Wage theft abounds. Workers frequently sleep in the airport for a few hours in between shifts, not leaving the airport for days at a time in order to get more shifts.
If a worker can stick it out long enough to earn more than $13/hour, their contract is terminated. The work is either offered to someone else, or the same person can apply for the job at an even lower wage. Last year, hundreds of workers in the airport’s refuelling, wheelchair assistance, and de-icing services were laid off and forced to reapply for jobs at much lower pay rates. At least 200 of these workers were never rehired. The previous year, parking attendants were targeted. Avero herself has been working at Pearson for 18 years; she still earns minimum wage. Welcome to the world of deregulation and privatization.
If the conditions at Pearson are shocking, the conditions for temp workers around Ontario are off the charts. Navi Aujla, a graduate student, followed in Barbara Ehrenreich’s footsteps, working for temp agencies in the Toronto area. The agencies employ mainly new immigrants from racialized communities, and mostly women. As a rule, they pay less than minimum wage, expect round-the-clock availability, and are in constant violation of almost every clause in the Employment Standards Act. Many major companies use agency workers for the majority of their workforce. The agencies are completely unregulated, and what regulations there are, are not enforced.
After the main speakers, a member of the audience took the mic to talk about his situation. A Somali man, he was a successful lawyer in his home country. In Canada, his degree was not recognized (an extremely common situation), so he went back to school and became a qualified accountant. He sent his resume to 500 accounting firms and did not receive as much as a single phone call. Why would that be? His name is Abdullahi Barre, and this was in early 2002.
Barre took many different jobs, earning whatever wage he could. After many years, he found work as a parking attendant at Pearson Airport, and worked his way up to $14/hour. . . until everyone was fired and rehired at $11.25/hour. That’s when he joined the Workers Action Centre and became active in working for change.
With the event just days after CUPE 1989’s ratification vote, the organizers asked me to speak as well. It was exciting to report on a win, and to talk about how our strike energized and activated our members.
But the best part of the event, for me, was that two random 1989 members attended, on their own — and one even spoke a bit, during the open mic portion. I don’t know if either of these members had ever attended a union meeting before, and here they were at a community organizing event in Brampton. That might be the biggest win of all.
Continue readingwmtc: from the front lines, day 18 (we have a deal!)
The Strike Is Over – We Have A Deal!The Bargaining Team is very pleased to announce that we have reached a settlement! This is a “tentative settlement,” pending ratification by our members, then the Library Board, and Council. The Bargaining Team is ve…
Continue readingwmtc: from the front lines, day 18 (we have a deal!)
The Strike Is Over – We Have A Deal!The Bargaining Team is very pleased to announce that we have reached a settlement! This is a “tentative settlement,” pending ratification by our members, then the Library Board, and Council. The Bargaining Team is ve…
Continue readingwmtc: from the front line, day 17
I am very pleased to announce that we had an encouraging afternoon at the table — enough that we are meeting again tomorrow. So finally, something hopeful to report.Maureen O’Reilly, President of 4948, TPL Workers Union, and Fred Hahn, President of CU…
Continue readingwmtc: from the front lines, day 17
I am very pleased to announce that we had an encouraging afternoon at the table — enough that we are meeting again tomorrow. So finally, something hopeful to report.Maureen O’Reilly, President of 4948, TPL Workers Union, and Fred Hahn, President of CU…
Continue readingwmtc: from the front lines, day 16
Picketing TodayI received great reports from our members who said Good Morning at the executive garage. Picketing at Central in general is going very well. Don’t forget to make leafletting and speaking to the public your top priority.In addition, we hi…
Continue readingwmtc: from the front lines, day 16
Picketing TodayI received great reports from our members who said Good Morning at the executive garage. Picketing at Central in general is going very well. Don’t forget to make leafletting and speaking to the public your top priority.In addition, we hi…
Continue readingwmtc: from the front lines, day 15
Libraries Rock!What can you say when 50 schoolkids march to your picket line holding signs they made to support us, chanting “Kids Say: “LIBRARIES ROCK!”??? What a day!The Dufferin-Bloor Hub camp does one social justice lesson each summer, and this sum…
Continue readingwmtc: from the front lines, day 15
Libraries Rock!What can you say when 50 schoolkids march to your picket line holding signs they made to support us, chanting “Kids Say: “LIBRARIES ROCK!”??? What a day!The Dufferin-Bloor Hub camp does one social justice lesson each summer, and this sum…
Continue readingwmtc: from the front lines, day 13
We spent more time in the community this week, speaking to Mississauga residents about our cause, and giving the gift of free storytimes. Here are some reports.Malton”I had a customer tell me yesterday that he calls 3-1-1 everyday to find out when the …
Continue readingwmtc: from the front lines, day 13
We spent more time in the community this week, speaking to Mississauga residents about our cause, and giving the gift of free storytimes. Here are some reports.Malton”I had a customer tell me yesterday that he calls 3-1-1 everyday to find out when the …
Continue readingwmtc: from the front lines, day 12
While Ribfest took over Celebration Square, CUPE 1989 members had another satisfying day in our communities. The managers that the City has assigned to “monitor” us (their word) and the special outside security detail came along for the ride. Because, …
Continue readingwmtc: from the front lines, day 12
While Ribfest took over Celebration Square, CUPE 1989 members had another satisfying day in our communities. The managers that the City has assigned to “monitor” us (their word) and the special outside security detail came along for the ride. Because, …
Continue reading