A group of protesters is currently occupying Premier Doug Ford's Etobicoke constituency office and refusing to leave without action. Their cause? A lack of protections for temporary agency workers.
They're protesting in light of the recent and fifth death of a temp worker at Fiera Foods, a North York industrial bakery that supplies retailers such as Sobey's and Dunkin Donuts.
We're going strong at #OccupyFord
— Preethy Sivakumar (@preethysiva) October 16, 2019
We need stronger protections for temp agency workers. Enough is enough.@fordnation - sign the law! pic.twitter.com/IrHMn6kfYL
A couple weeks ago, the 57-year-old father was killed by a machine that turned on while he was cleaning it.
Five temps have died from workplace accidents at this factory or one of its affiliates since 1999, and in 2017 an investigation by Toronto Star reporter Sara Mojtehedzadeh revealed that tempt workers receive minimal training upon being hired.
No more deaths!@WorkersAC @fairwagesnow @JFAAP @torontolabour @OFLabour @UFCWCanada @UniforTheUnion @CUPEOntario @CJusticeTO @cupw occupying @fordnation's office. Ford must enact the law to protect temp agency workers #OccupyFord
— Preethy Sivakumar (@preethysiva) October 16, 2019
Sign the petition now: https://t.co/MlcCaEeof4 pic.twitter.com/kiUs3geDaB
In Ontario, companies who hire workers from temp agencies are not required to compensate them for workplace injuries, as they are temporary contractors and not considered employees.
And though a measure was introduced by the previous Liberal government to fix this, the Ford government has yet to implement the section of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act which would protect more temp agency workers from getting hurt.
Why #occupyford? Here’s a quick explainer: In Ontario, temp agency workers are twice as likely to die compared to directly hired employees. This is because companies have a financial incentive to hire temp agency workers for the riskiest jobs.
— Ella Bedard (@EllaBedard) October 16, 2019
Now, protestors are demanding Ford sign the necessary documents in order to prevent further workplace deaths.
Activists are camped outside his office with signs encouraging him to enact the law and chanting "No more deaths," while others occupy the inside of the office. Protestors are also reading out the names of the five workers who were killed at Fiera Foods.
#occupyford continues inside his office as people rally outside. Let’s get section 83 (4) regulation signed and implemented NOW! Protect temp workers. They deserve to go home alive. #PowerofMany @OFLabour pic.twitter.com/xTffDvaawM
— Patty Coates (@Pattycoates) October 16, 2019
The hashtag #occupyford is also trending on Twitter.
Activists have already been on site for hours and they're pledging to stay indefinitely — they're even hosting a movie screening at 9 p.m. and giving out pizza.
Members are urged to visit the #occupyford movement at the constituency office of #DougFord 823, Albion Road. Come for the fight, stay for a movie at 9pm tonight. Join the the occupiers who will be here until he agrees to #enactthelaw that will protect workers on the job. pic.twitter.com/o64irUErKC
— Toronto Teachers (@OSSTFtoronto) October 16, 2019
It remains to be seen how long they'll really stay, but perhaps just long enough to get Ford to sign section 83(4) of the Workers Safety and Insurance Act.
by Mira Miller via blogTO
No comments:
Post a Comment