The Fight for $15 and Fairness keeps on fighting

Puppets of a banker pulling the strings on Premier Doug Ford and holiday carols denouncing Tory’s Bill 47, which will remove the gains achieved so far by the Fight for $15 and Fairness Campaign (FF15&F). These were the sights and sounds of a mock deputation held November 15 in front of the Ontario legislature to coincide with the pathetically short 5-hour hearing period the Tories were giving to the public to review their draconian workplace legislation. The event was organized by the FF15&F and there were powerful speakers from OPSEU college faculty, a nurse, a Regents Park low-income earner, a rabbi who heads up the inter-faith social justice group, a climate activist, and representatives from the Canadian Federation of Students. The event was planned for media exposure and was well covered by several mainstream media outlets. It was one of many actions that have been happening across Ontario almost every day for the last two weeks.
Bill 47 is going to final reading on Tuesday, November 20. On that day, we will, quite literally, be just six weeks away from a $15 minimum wage. The cruelty of this government, cancelling the $15 minimum wage and freezing the minimum wage for another 33 months means a real dollar wage cut for millions of workers. The government's elimination of paid sick days and reducing unpaid sick days have been met with shock -- and outrage; even by people who voted for Ford. The recent public opinion poll showing widespread support for our new labour laws and falling support for Ford verified what all of us who have been campaigning in our unions and in the streets already knew: people want and need decent work -- and these attacks are hurting Ford among his own base.
PACK THE GALLERY THIS TUESDAY!
On November 20, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, the Fight for $15 and Fairness is calling for as many people as possible to pack the Queen's Park gallery when the Conservatives vote to scrap our new labour laws. We need to send a strong clear message that this fight is not over, and that we will keep fighting for decent work, in our workplaces and in our unions.
We expect debate to begin at 3:00 pm, and the vote can take place as early as 5:00 pm. However, the governing party has the right to change the timing of the debate right up to the last minute, so if there is a change, it's not on the campaign, it is on the cowardice of this government trying to shield itself from public scrutiny. So please try to come, but watch your inbox and Facebook notifications on the day. We also need help spreading the word. You can RSVP and share the Facebook event here. Also, please RSVP on the website here.