OFL Precarious Work Survey

Today in Ontario, more than 1.7 million workers are earning at or around minimum wage and many Ontarians are trapped working precarious part-time, temporary, contract and subcontracted jobs, without a union.

The Government of Ontario has initiated its “Changing Workplace Review,” which aims to examine the out-dated Employment Standards Act and the Labour Relations Act.

In response, the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) has launched the Make It Fair campaign pushing for employment law reforms to seize the historic opportunity presented by the provincial review.  The Make It Fair campaign is a partner campaign to the Fight for $15 and Fairness, with the goal of mobilizing union members.

“Inequality and precarious work are on the rise across our growing province but collectively, each of us has the power to change the law and help Ontario workers out of poverty,” said OFL President Chris Buckley.

Unionized workers have a long history of incredible gains at the bargaining table including maternity/parental benefits, unemployment insurance, the 40-hour week and a ban on child labour, that have become the law of the land.

OFL wants to hear your thoughts on precarious work

In an ongoing effort to push a progressive agenda of reform, the OFL and unions across Ontario have launched a survey on precarious work – an issue that is fast becoming the ‘new normal’ for Ontario’s seven million workers, who increasingly find themselves in part-time, contract and temp agency jobs with lower pay, fewer benefits and unpredictable schedules.  The goal of the survey is to speak to union members about their experiences and the experiences of their families of precarious work.

“This is an issue we are all too aware of in the college system,” said OPSEU Local 110 (Fanshawe College Faculty Union) President Darryl Bedford. “Approximately 62% of our faculty are precariously employed in various categories, union and non-union. We encourage all faculty to complete the survey because many of them have recent personal experience with precarious work. And they are surrounded by colleagues in that situation right now.”

To share your thoughts on precarious work, visit www.makeitfair.ca and complete the survey.

Upon finishing the survey, participants will also have a chance to enter to win a $200 gift card for either Loblaws or Metro grocery stores.

 
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