Ahead of June's provincial election, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced the minimum wage would increase to $15 on January 1, 2022. Labour activists have called this a cynical move - Ford cancelled the planned increase to $15 three years ago - along with paid sick days and other worker protections when he repealed Bill 148: The Fair Workplaces and Better Jobs Act.
Which is why some workers were confused when Unifor President Jerry Dias and OPSEU President Warren ‘Smokey’ Thomas flanked Ford at his press conference. While Dias was critical of Ford, Thomas was friendlier: “For the first time in dealing with
three governments, we actually have a government that actually is listening and doing some positive things.”
Robert Hiltz didn’t hold back scathing criticism in Passage: “What is wrong with these guys? People are dead, and they didn’t have to be.”
A $15 minimum wage both in Ontario - and federally - ultimately raises the floor for workers. As Justice for Workers organizer David Bush points out, the role of social movements is to exploit politicians’ selfish cynicism to extract wins for workers. Ford introduced this increase because it was popular with voters - thanks to years of boots-on-the ground organizing.
As we slowly ease out of the pandemic, all parties should know their positions on workers’ rights will make or break their jousts for power.
