New paid sick days plan too little, too late

We forced the government to act on paid sick days. It is proof that our organizing is working! But, the newly announced Worker Income Protection Benefit (WIPB) is far from the "best paid sick days plan in North America" that we were promised. Protecting workers' lives has not been a priority for the current government, but it will continue to be a priority for us. This May Day, we stand with workers who are rising up with a new set of demands. On Saturday, May 1st at 11:00 am, join the Justice for Workers Online Rally to raise your voice along with hundreds of people demanding adequate paid sick days and decent work for all.

Worker Income Protection Benefit: Our Analysis

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Conservative government has voted down paid sick days 25 times, only to implement a half measure 13 months later. Today, the WIPB became law and will provide 3 temporary paid sick days for COVID-19 related reasons. It is delivered by the employer, but reimbursed through taxpayers dollars. This is too little, too late. Workers, in particular Black, racialized, low income and women workers, have been waiting too long -- working through a catastrophic pandemic and putting their lives on the line. While 3 days is better than nothing, workers deserve much more. Our patients and communities need at least 10 permanent paid sick days with an additional 14 days during public health emergencies. 

The WIPB is a “band-aid on a band-aid”. It is not adequate, not permanent and may leave low wage workers worse off. Once workers use up the 3 paid days, they have to apply separately to CRSB, where they will run into the same problems as before -- interruption of income, delayed payments, and lack of seamless accessibility. Workers will also not be able to access the CRSB and WIPB in the same week. This means if a low-wage worker ends up needing to take the whole week off after taking paid sick days under WIPB, they will end up worse off than if they had applied for CRSB. For example, a worker making $14.25 per hour accessing 3 WIPB days would get less than $300 per week, but loses out on CRSB at $500 that week. 

Watch this clip of DWHN members, RN Carolina Jimenez, Dr. Gaibrie Stephen & Dr. Naheed Dosani on why the WIPB fails to measure up

By reimbursing employers for the WSIB expense, tax dollars will end up subsidizing profitable corporations who can afford to pay for paid sick days. The program only reimburses employers who do not already provide paid sick days. As a consequence, it punishes small businesses who have already chosen to provide paid sick days.

Lastly, the WIPB is set to expire September 25, 2021. This is not the permanent protections workers need. Sixteen states in the US - and counting - have permanent, legislated employer-paid sick days. It can and must be done. For example, Colorado has legislated up to 48 hours (~6 days) of permanent paid sick time and up to 80 hours (~10 days) of paid sick time during public health emergencies, available to all workers. 

Health Workers Fight Back

Earlier this month, the government chose to increase police powers to enforce a lockdown instead of legislating paid sick days or investing in public health. When faced with a public outcry, the government rolled back some of the proposed police powers. Nonetheless, any additional powers embolden police to act with impunity and will harm Black, Indigenous and racialized communities. Health workers responded by demanding investment in public health, paid sick days and vaccines for all NOT policing. Check out this video from the incredible #HealthWorkersFightBack action on Sunday at Queen's Park.

Paid Sick Days Just the Tip of the Decent Work Iceberg

We will keep fighting for the paid sick days our patients and communities need – permanent, fully paid, accessible, employer-provided, and adequate. We also know that workers are facing many other issues of precarious and unsafe work. The time is now to challenge these deep systemic inequities and fight for decent work! The demands of the new Justice for Workers, Decent Work for All campaign (formerly, the Fight for $15 and Fairness campaign) are the result of one-on-one and group conversations with hundreds of workers over the last several months. Here’s a glimpse at some of the critical demands needed to ensure decent working conditions in Ontario workplaces:

• A higher minimum wage – $20 per hour that can pay the bills!
• 10 paid sick days permanently, and 14 more days during health outbreaks
• Equal pay for equal work for part-time, casual, and temp agency workers
• Stronger enforcement strategies to make employers follow the law
• An end to racism, discrimination, and workplace bullying
• Full, permanent immigration Status for All – and more!

Come to the online rally to hear from workers about all of the demands. Invite your family and friends to register, too. With music, speeches and the chance to take action, let’s show that health workers support justice for workers! Register now for the Justice for Workers Online Rally and share the event on Facebook.