The next chapter in the Decent Work and Health Network story

We are honoured to have been organizing health workers in the decent work movement. We are writing today to announce that the Decent Work and Health Network (DWHN) is being amalgamated into the Justice for Workers network. 

DWHN’s priority has always been to respond to, and support, a worker-led movement. With the rise of xenophobia and racism, attacks on public services, heat waves and wildfires, and an affordability & housing crisis – a movement of precariously employed workers requires more care and focus. The need to be strategic at this moment is paramount. 

Given this context, it does not make sense to continue mobilizing allies while low-waged workers are under attack from all sides. We have taken the decision to amalgamate DWHN into Justice for Workers so that more time and resources can be invested into building capacity of workers who are directly impacted by the shifting political terrain.

The Decent Work and Health Network story 

DWHN was formed over a decade ago as a network of health workers advocating for the demands of Fight for $15 and Fairness campaign. It was clear to many health workers that raising the minimum wage, legislating paid sick days, equal pay for equal work, and other decent work policies are key to improving individual and collective health. 

In the last 12 years, the conversation around social determinants of health has become mainstream thanks to our collective efforts. Health workers took workers’ demands into clinics, hospitals, educational institutions, professional associations, government meetings, in the media, and finally, to the streets, and then to Queen’s Park and Parliament. 

Together, we have won:

• 10 paid sick days for almost 1 million federally regulated workers in Canada
• 5 paid sick days for workers in British Columbia
• 3 paid sick days for all workers in Ontario during the pandemic
• $15 minimum wage for workers in Ontario in 2022
• Cost of living adjustment for Ontario’s minimum wage, meaning that the $15/hr in 2022 will rise to $17.95/hr on October 1, 2026
• $15 minimum wage for federally regulated workers in Canada in 2022, that has been increasing each year to match inflation 

All of this would not have been possible without a mass movement involving workers, healthcare providers, and allies like yourself. 

Looking to the future

We are proud of the organizing health workers have done to improve employment standards. To recognize and celebrate that hard work, as well as share lessons from the movement, we are producing a short DOCUMENTARY FILM that will be available publicly. Release date coming soon!

As well, we will be sharing some of the strategies, wins, and lessons from our decade of organizing in an upcoming BLOG SERIES by DWHN members that will be available on our website.

During the years, we have built numerous RESOURCES that will be useful to organizers and health justice activists everywhere. From factsheets, and reports, to how-to guides on organizing with co-workers in healthcare, meeting with your MPP, speaking to the media. These resources are available in the “Resources” page of our website. We hope that the website will act as a helpful tool for future advocates and organizers. 

Staying in touch

The decent work movement continues with the Justice for Workers (J4W) campaign. If you wish to being contacted by the J4W team for periodic campaign updates, please join the movement here.

Lastly, a big thank you to the staff organizers and mentors who have shaped and grown the network over the years, most especially, Anwaar Baobeid, Carolina Jimenez, Denise Martins, Kate Atkinson, Kate Hayman, Maddie Ritts, Sarah Shahid, Yasmin Beydoun, Andrew Pinto, Brynne Sinclair-Waters, Deena Ladd, Pam Frache, and Sue Carter.