Support on paid sick days crucial next week

Next week is extremely important. Ontario’s newly elected government is getting back to work on Monday, August 8. Due to the pressure we created, the opposition intends to table legislation immediately, which will provide all workers with 10 permanent paid sick days. This means, the government has a real opportunity to move on paid sick days and show up for workers. 

This is urgent as cases of COVID-19 and monkeypox continue to rise in Ontario. DWHN member Dr. Samantha Green recently spoke at a press conference last week highlighting the limitations of inadequate programs like the Worker Income Protection Benefit (WIPB), that cannot be accessed for any illnesses other than COVID-19. Infectious diseases are not going anywhere and workers must have permanent and adequate protection to curb transmission and recover when sick.

It's important as legislature resumes that we send a clear message: our patients need 10 permanent paid sick days.

This is why the Decent Work and Health Network is joining the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) on Monday, August 8, 2022 at 12:00 PM in front of Queen’s Park to demand action on 10 paid sick days. Can you attend the rally on Monday?

Picnic Social for Health Workers - August 25 at 5:30 PM

Health worker advocacy has achieved many goals during the pandemic. It’s time to take a break and celebrate the work of health activists. 

Join the Decent Work and Health Network (DWHN) and Health Providers Against Poverty (HPAP) for a summer picnic on August 25 at 5:00 PM at Christie Pits. 

We will have food, music, and games. HPAP will be collecting old phones and chargers for donations.

As you can tell, Ontario is in a deep crisis.  We are not only in the seventh wave of the pandemic but also facing record inflation as our healthcare system is collapsing. All of this puts workers’ health in great jeopardy. With the legislature resuming next week, we need to prepare to fight back. That means growing our movement across the province and advancing decent work and health policies from every angle possible. 

We will be in touch soon with more updates.