Ontario workers will be participating in more than 30 rallies across the province to tell premier Doug Ford that enough is enough. The day of action will take place on June 3 and is being hosted by the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL).
“Despite running on the slogan ‘working for workers,’ Doug Ford has used the first year of his government’s second term to ramp up privatization and ignore the real issues facing working people,” wrote Patty Coates, OFL president, in an email to rabble.ca.
OFL wrote in a statement that they are tired of the rich getting richer while workers struggle to get by. The day of action on June 3 will be a chance for workers to fight for legislation that truly works for them.
Among the OFL’s demands are real wage increases, keeping schools and healthcare public, affordable basic goods, rent control, affordable housing and making banks and corporations pay their fair share in taxes.
All the demands put forward by the OFL are protections for the working class that have been put at risk by legislation put forward during Doug Ford’s time as premier.
“Since the beginning of the Ford’s government’s second term, they have made moves to privatize our health care system with Bill 60, attack public education with Bill 98, threaten workers’ right to strike with Bill 28, destroy the Greenbelt with Bill 23, and further disrespect public sector workers by appealing the decision to strike down Bill 124,” said Coates.
Coates said that Ontarians can look deeper into Ford’s anti-worker and anti-poor policies using the OFL’s Ford tracker.
“These bills are only a handful of some of the most destructive legislation put forward by Doug Ford’s Conservative government,” Coates explained. “The widespread support for the Enough is Enough campaign demonstrates that Ontarians everywhere are fed up and ready to take action.”
In the OFL’s Enough is Enough campaign video, workers express their frustration with being constantly told to tighten their belts while corporations post record profits.
The campaign is calling for a reframing of the affordability crisis and building laws that address workers needs over corporate profits.
Workers are demanding a $20 dollar minimum wage, the permanent repeal of Bill 124, the restoration and expansion of decent work laws, including Paid Sick Days and equal pay for equal work, and more.
These laws will take the weight of the affordability crisis off workers and place the responsibility on those who are accountable for inflation, namely large corporations who pay poverty wages and post record profits.
“Too many Ontarians are struggling to make ends meet. Wages aren’t keeping up and housing costs are too high,” Coates explained.
Real wage increases, along with the fulfillment of the other demands put forward by the OFL could make life for workers on Ontario much more manageable.
“All of this is a result of the Ford government choosing to line the pockets of his corporate buddies, instead of investing in Ontarians’ well-being,” Coates said. “It shouldn’t be this way. That’s why we’re saying: enough is enough!”
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