Toronto & York Region Labour Council
15 Gervais Dr # 407 M3C 1Y8 Toronto, ON, Canada

Rally on wheels for public education happening tomorrow, April 30 to protest the decimation of Laurentian University - Université Laurentienne, the chronic underfunding of post-secondary education, and the political interference by FordNation and his government Get details and see how you can take action https://northernsolidarity.ca/en/

ICYMI: Today's #DayofMourning virtual ceremony featured a variety of guest speakers, including representatives from Decent Work and Health Network, CUPE Local 79, CUPE 905, SEIU Healthcare, OECTA - Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association, Workers Health & Safety Centre, and more. We were also joined by Councillor Amanda Yeung Collucci from the City of Markham and Ontario NDP MPP for Scarborough Southwest (SSW) Doly Begum. We want to thank all those who joined us live for today's virtual event. We pledge to Mourn for the Dead, and to continue to fight like hell for the Living! Watch the full replay here

Thanks to everyone who joined us for today's #DayOfMourning virtual ceremony. Read our full statement on the importance of today here: https://www.labourcouncil.ca/day_of_mourning_2021_full_stat

Welcome to the Toronto & York Region Labour Council's #DayofMourning ceremonies. Today, as we have for the last 36 years, we honour those workers who have been killed or injured at work or suffered from occupational disease. This day was initiated by the Canadian Labour Congress - Congrès du travail du Canada in 1985, as unions struggled against recalcitrant employers and politicians who refused, despite the cost in human lives, to challenge business conduct. For the last 1...50 years, health and safety has been a focus of the Toronto & York Region Labour Council. Our years of struggle for safety have provided a guide to what should be happening now. Workers need to be empowered, and employers must invest in safety in workplaces. Everybody on the frontlines should be vaccinated. Public health programs need to be invested in. And most importantly, everybody should have paid sick days off when they need it. Today we draw from the resolve we have learned over many generations. We pledge to Mourn for the Dead, and to continue to Fight Like Hell for the Living!

PREMIERING IN 30 MINS Our first #DayofMourning ceremony of the day begins at 11 am today, with guests from Decent Work and Health Network, CUPE Local 79, CUPE 905, IBEW Local 353, SEIU Healthcare, OECTA - Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association, Workers Health & Safety Centre. Click below to set your reminder and join us A special replay will also begin at 12 pm here: https://www.facebook.com/LabourCouncil/posts/3934637679915901

Instead of investing to protect the people of Ontario, especially our seniors, the Ford government seems more concerned about hiding the truth about Covid-19 and long-term care from Ontarians. Demand better. Protect our elders. Make care public.

TONIGHT! **New registrations welcome** 7:00-8:30pm: THIRD SESSION Ending Gender Based Violence ... We learned that women experienced more violence during COVID-19, in part because they were imprisoned at home with their abusers. This session will address that and other gender-based violence experiences and help participants join the labour movement’s and community actions to confront gender based violence. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/covid-19-reality-resilience-rec

In this weeks' Toronto & York Region Labour Council news: Broken Hearts, Empty Shoes: support Long-Term Care Standards NOV 24: #SafeLearnOrNoReturn Roundtable Discussion NOV 21:Tropicana workers on strike: show your solidarity... We’re hiring: become an organizer Forward Together: Impact Felt Across Canada Spotlight on Ford's Failures https://www.labourcouncil.ca/nov_17_news

Toronto’s Unions stand together for: climate justice; good, green jobs and a Just Recovery for all. The future is in our hands. Let’s make this moment count. #justrecoveryforall #climatejustice #fridaysforfuture #labourinaction #climateweek #globaldayclimateaction

CANADIAN LABOUR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL: VIRTUAL SCREENINGS Canada's national labour film festival celebrates the stories of workers and the conditions under which they live, work, fight, and succeed in their daily lives! Now in it’s 11th year, CLIFF has gone virtual and features a range of on-demand screenings and special events including watch parties, Q&As with filmmakers and more. In a world of increasing polarization and a plethora of content, CLIFF believes it is mo...re important than ever that working people be able to tell their own stories in their own words and with their own images. Their mission is not just to showcase the stories of workers, but to encourage film-making by partnering with other organisations friendly to the cause. Highlights this year include: Company Town a film about the Oshawa GM Plant Aguan-Sun Behind the Horizon about a rickshaw-puller, who breaks traditional gender roles while supporting her two children. Gathering circle a documentary about the Indigenous architects and collaborators behind the new Indigenous public space built in Collingwood Follow CLIFF on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/labourfilms/

We're hiring an organizer. Responsibilities will include working with the Labour Council President and staff on all aspects of the Council’s work in both Toronto and York Region, including political action, building union strength, the development of networks of union activists around key campaign goals, and other duties as assigned.

SPOTLIGHT ON COUNCIL OF CANADIANS The The Council of Canadians is the country’s largest civil society organization, formed 35 years ago to challenge the disastrous Free Trade Agreement. The Council’s campaigns have evolved since then, expanding into areas such as clean water, fair trade, public health care, democracy, Indigenous rights and the urgent action that is needed to address the climate crisis. The organization has been chaired by our own President John Cartwright si...nce June 2019. With a mission to challenge corporate power and hold governments to account by organizing for collective action, it’s never been a better time to get involved. Join now if you share the belief that real and lasting social change is made when ordinary people from across generations, across political stripes and across the country come together to act for the common good. Check out their latest campaign for a national pharmacare program Explore membership: https://canadians.org/membership-enrolment

May millions of lamps illuminate your life with endless joy. Happy #Diwali

Great result! Company Town shows the heart behind our movement: folks who feel a sense of pride and duty to their work and communities. Coming off the back of the recent announcement to start the Oshawa plant again, its good to see good news. Well done to the folks at #CLIFF, #CompanyTown and all the other labour filmmakers!

ICYMI: Doug Ford and #FordNation are failing us. Toronto's unions demand a #JustRecovery for Ontario

SHECOVERY: TAKING ACTION ON GENDER INEQUALITY October is Women’s History Month in Canada and the pandemic has amplified existing barriers to women’s economic justice, like wage discrimination, sexual harassment and violence, and the lack of affordable child care. To address the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on women, Canada’s unions are calling on the federal government to take immediate action to: Fix the Child Care Crisis End Wage Discrimination... End Sexual Harassment and Violence Make Work Fair Take action on gender inequality http://www.donewaiting.ca/

York Communities for Public Education is excited to host another #SafeLearnOrNoReturn Roundtable Discussion on Tuesday, November 24th from 7:00pm to 8:30pm, live on our Facebook page! Join our Co-Chair Shameela Shakeel, NDP Education Critic Marit Stiles, COVID-19 Biostatistician Ryan Imgrund, YCDSB teacher Karen Ebanks, and YRDSB student Palwashah Ali for a discussion on learning and teaching during the pandemic. We will be touching upon several important topics including st...udent mental health, equity concerns, safety measures, class sizes, response strategy, and more. Please register and submit your questions no later than November 21st at 11:59pm! #OntEd #OntEdReality #Onpoli #YRDSB #YCDSB #saferschools https://linktr.ee/yorkcommunities4publiced

ICYMI: CLIMATE CHANGE RACIAL JUSTICE & ECONOMIC JUSTICE PANEL Last month’s virtual Climate Jobs and Just Transition Summit brought American labour, climate activists, social and racial justice advocates together to map out the clean-energy economy of tomorrow with strong union jobs. There was one Canadian speaker - our President John Cartwright on a panel that focused on how climate change and inequality are inextricably linked and how to build intersectional solidarity between these two fights for justice. https://www.youtube.com/watch

#SAFETYFORALL: SUPPORT CHILDCARE AS SCHOOLS NAVIGATE LATEST BAND-AID FIX The chaos in our schools continues as some school boards move to hybrid learning while the rollout of digital learning in the TDSB is buckling under increased requests for online learning. Stressed educators are pushed even further as they try to adapt to lecture style teaching that fails both the kids in class and those online halfway through the fall term. All the while, anxiety mounts for the ma...ny families who can’t afford to keep their kids home or provide the resources needed. In addition to failing on schools, the Ford government is trying to make sneaky changes to child care regulations that would place more young children into larger groups with fewer staff and lower qualification requirements. Join the #RisingUpForChildCare campaign, putting the focus on frontline ECEs and staff, parents and families who are experiencing the child care crisis. Tell Premier Ford and Minister Lecce that this is not the way expand child care. Sign the petition now https://www.childcareontario.org/rising_up_petition

TOMORROW: CHINESE CANADIAN WORKERS IN TORONTO EVENT More than 4,000 Chinese workers died building the country’s first transcontinental railroad, even as the Chinese community faced discrimination and outright racism. Laws were specially created to oppress and exclude them. Yet they persevered. Join the Toronto Workers' History Project in this special livestreamed presentation as the panelists will take us through more than a century of the experiences of Chinese-Canadians: fi...ghting back, organising and leading the way for many others. Featuring: Winnie Ng: Activist, scholar, Chair Emeritus, Ryerson-Unifor National Chair in Social Justice and Democracy. Jennifer Huang: Chinese Workers’ Network, Toronto and York Regional Labour Council Justin Kong: Executive Director, Chinese Canadian National Council, Toronto Date: Wednesday, 14 October, 2020 Time: 7:00 pm 9:00 pm Where: Zoom or via livestream on Facebook https://bit.ly/3cdNHuB www.fb.me/TOWorkers

Get the latest from the Labour Council! This week's e-blast includes: #SafetyforAll: Support childcare as schools navigate latest band-aid fix TOMORROW: Chinese Canadian Workers in Toronto event... Shecovery: Taking Action on Gender Inequality CLIFF - Canadian Labour International Film Festival: Virtual Screenings ICYMI: Climate Change, Racial Justice & Economic Justice Spotlight on Council of Canadians See more

FAREWELL MOHAMMED! Today is Labour Council Senior Organizer Mohammed Hashim's last day with us. Starting next week, he will become the Executive Director of Canadian Race Relations Foundation, based in Toronto. We will sorely miss him as a core part of our Labour Council team. His pioneering work on equity and inclusion has immeasurably strengthened our Council and our movement. He started as labour staff with United Way of Peel Region, then worked with Labour Community Serv...ices before coming to Labour Council four years ago. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the United Way of Greater Toronto, Treasurer of the Urban Alliance on Race Relations and is a founding advisor of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network. We all wish him the best in the next part of his life journey. www.crrf-fcrr.ca/en/

PREMIERING THS SATURDAY 8pm on CBC "Company Town" is the dramatic inside story of the fight by the autoworkers of Oshawa to keep General Motors from shuttering its plants at the cost of 5,000 lost union jobs. For over a century, the people of Oshawa built cars and trucks for GM, but corporate greed prevailed and the last vehicle rolled off the line six days before last Christmas. Documentary film-maker Peter Findlay portrays the anger and emotion of workers and union leaders... trying to deal with the devastating impact of this betrayal. While the efforts to re-imagine a green jobs option did not come to fruition, the recent news that Ford Oakville will be producing electric vehicles is a subsequent victory for Canadian autoworkers. Company Town debuts on CBC this Saturday, October 10th at 8:00pm and will be available to stream on CBC Gem - https://www.cbc.ca/cbcdocspov/episodes/company-town

DELEGATES DEMAND JUST RECOVERY FOR ONTARIO The Ford government has thrown Ontario in the midst of Covid-19’s second wave without undertaking the preparation necessary to keep us safe. As schools re-open in this province without adequate staffing, physical distancing or protective measures, parents are scrambling to place their children in a safe environment or keep their kids home for months. So far Doug Ford is still enjoying a certain esteem from his initial response t...o the pandemic. But he is using that reputation to mask the ongoing agenda that is driving more inequality, undermining public services and driving down wages. Environmental standards are being shredded, and measures for affordable housing are being rolled back. For Canadians to win new national programs, greater economic justice and real climate action, the people of Ontario will have to expose and block the Ford Conservatives attempts to sabotage these progressive measures. Read our statement: https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net//Just_Recovery_in_On

TOMORROW: JOIN THE DAY OF ACTION FOR LONG TERM CARE People are once again dying of COVID-19, many without adequate care. We can't let what happened in the last 6 months happen again. HELP US HAVE THE STRONGEST DAY OF ACTION POSSIBLE. Join Ontario Health Coalition for the Day of Action to create political pressure to expose the lack of action to improve and push for an end of the for-profit privatization of long-term care.... **New guidelines forbid groups of 25+ so the Queen’s Park rally will consist of the car cavalcade starting at 9:30 a.m. and the press conference will start at 9:45 online. We are asking people to stay in their cars and to decorate them with protest messages. Please call Riley about the car cavalcade (647) 617-1474 or the OHC office about the car cavalcade or press conference at (416) 441-2502 [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/ontariohealth

TODAY: WORLD DAY FOR DECENT WORK October 7th is World Day for Decent Work where Canada’s unions recommit to working together to build a recovery that works for you and your family. The pandemic is causing more inequality and insecurity for working people. Right now, millions of people in Canada still need our help so we have to stick together and keep moving forward together. ... Join the webinar on Wednesday, October 7th to talk about a recovery that is focused on shared prosperity and sustainability. Panelists include: Marie Clarke Walker, CLC Armine Yalnizyan, Atkinson Foundation Deena Ladd, Workers’ Action Centre Samantha Smith, Just Transition Centre Matt Wayland, IBEW Canada When: Wednesday, October 7th Time: 2:00 p.m. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us//regist/WN_KfaknuxbTcmlwYcLiL-qsA

FORD: ACT NOW TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN & SAFE The government continues to blame individuals instead of showing responsibility and leadership by implementing needed social and health measures. Premier Ford has ignored advice from medical experts such as the Ontario Hospital Association and Toronto Public Health, who have urged reverting hot spots to Stage 2. In order for schools to remain open safely, swift measures are urgently required to suppress community spread of Covi...d-19. Add your voice to call for Premier Ford to take immediate action, including: - Return greater Toronto and Ottawa to Stage 2 - Ensure immediate, adequate, and accessible income supports for all workers affected. - Improve in-class and remote school conditions including reducing class sizes to 15, ventilation upgrades, outdoor ed. and student supports, provide access to quality internet and devices, and funding to ensure every child has a teacher. - Legislate decent wages and paid sick/family care days for all workers now. - Provide affordable dignified housing for all: No COVID evictions. It's well past time that Ford showed Ontarians he’s truly willing to do what it takes to protect and care for all of us. Join us in demanding that care and protection NOW! Sign the petition now https://ourschools.ca/