Press Release

For immediate release

Pressure mounts for paid sick days as workers deliver more than 30,000 petition signatures during car caravan following a two-month break at the Ontario legislature

TORONTO, ON - (February 16, 2021 - 10AM EST) Essential workers, health providers and everyday Ontarians are ratcheting up pressure on the Ford government to legislate paid sick days for all workers. Workers delivered more than 30,000 petition signatures, including over 1000 health providers, calling on the government to pass Bill 239, the Stay at Home if You Are Sick Act. The private member’s bill would legislate 7 permanent paid sick days and an additional 14 during public health emergencies. Representatives from all three opposition parties in government were present to receive the petition, furthering their support for all-party consent to expedite the bill. The petition delivery coincided with a car caravan that took over the city to support paid sick days for all.

The call for legislated paid sick days predates the pandemic and this government. Still, the pandemic has made it clear - this legislation is not a partisan issue, but a public health issue. Had paid sick days been in place before the pandemic, many people would still be alive today. 

“As a frontline worker in a for-profit long-term care home, I saw first hand how employers pressure staff to come to work even when they are sick because of chronic understaffing,” said Ayesha Jabbar. “Pressure to work while sick is bad public policy at the best of times. But during outbreaks like COVID-19, such management practices are deadly for residents and staff. This pressure takes a huge toll on staff’s mental health, who are already working around the clock to care for our seniors. Legislated permanent paid sick days are an absolute necessity to protect frontline workers and those they care for.”

Momentum has continued to pick up with public health officials, mayors, small business owners, and community and labour organizations, all echoing the call for paid sick days. Despite the growing consensus, Doug Ford has continued his reluctance to act quickly. Instead, he has deferred to the federal government’s recovery benefits as a viable alternative. Workers and public policy experts have continued to point out that these benefits pay less than full-time minimum wage, have processing delays of up to four weeks, and provide no job security for sick workers. 

“Every day, we are hearing from workers who can’t afford to take a day off. The suggestion that CRSB is a replacement for paid sick days is out of touch with the reality of workers across the province,” said Deena Ladd, Executive Director of the Workers’ Action Centre. “Paid sick days will allow workers to stay home the moment they notice symptoms, without worrying about how it will impact their ability to make ends meet. Legislated paid sick days for all also means workers are more likely to take a day off to get tested or vaccinated.”

This is especially true as schools are reopening, said Rachel Huot, a parent and a member of the Ontario Parent Action Network. "A school reopening plan that relies on parents to keep kids home when sick or after an exposure just won't work unless every parent can access paid sick days. Our children also need the education workers who care for them to stay home when sick. Many education workers have no access to paid sick days. There is no more time. If the Ford government cares about keeping schools open safely they must implement paid sick days now.”

“I know first hand what it was like to have to go to work sick because my kids depended on my paycheque,” said Debbie McGuinness, who was a casual worker without paid sick days for 12 years. “Even today, when I’m no longer casual, I’m in a workplace where 70% of frontline retail workers do not have access to paid sick days. There are consequences when workers can’t afford to take time off -- and during a pandemic, these consequences are lethal.”

“Bill 239 has garnered unprecedented support,” said Deena Ladd, “now all that is left is for the government to finally take action to protect the workers that Ford has been calling heroes for the past 11 months”. 

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Essential workers, health professionals, small business owners, and workers’ rights organizations will be available to share their stories and comment on the government’s response as the legislature resumes.

To arrange interviews, contact:

Fight for $15 and Fairness: Rajean Hoilett
[email protected]
289-923-3534

Decent Work and Health Network: Rana Hamadeh
[email protected]
647-803-8961

About the organizations:

The Decent Work and Health Network is a group of health workers advocating for improved working conditions as a matter of public health and health equity.

The Fight for $15 and Fairness is a growing movement of workers committed to fighting for decent work, and includes educators, anti-poverty activists, health providers, labour groups, students, and faith leaders.