Labour Matters

Community Benefits from Public Transit Expansion

Metrolinx has adopted a Community Benefits Framework to ensure transit infrastructure investments provide benefits to communities, including employment, training, apprenticeship, local suppliers and social procurement opportunities. The Community Benefits Framework is in partnership with the Toronto Community Benefits Network for the Toronto transit projects (LRT along Finch, Sheppard and Eglinton Avenues), beginning with the Eglinton Crosstown LRT line. Labour Council has highlighted apprentices entering the trades, but some of the other achievements of this program are young people who have been able to get jobs in the Professional, Administrative or Technical (PAT) occupations. Let us introduce you to Prajwal Amatya, a Computer Aided Designer/Drafter, and one of Crosslinx Transit Solutions Community Benefits’ hires. See Prajwal’s story of how the Community Benefits program helped him find a permanent job.

Employer jailed for working at heights Violation

An Ontario employer has been sentenced to one day in jail and fined $10,000 for failure to ensure a worker has adequate fall protection.A Ministry of Labour inspector attended a jobsite in Belleville in October 2015 and observed a roofer working at a height above three metres without fall protection. The same employer had prior convictions for the same offense in 2013 and 2015. Falls from heights is the leading cause of traumatic deaths in the construction sector.

Construction workers must complete a MOL-approved working at heights training program before they start work at heights and use fall protection equipment, or be enrolled in a MOL-approved training program scheduled prior to October 1, 2017 compliance deadline. Need working at heights training? Call your union or Labour Education Centre 647-296-4176. www.lecsafetytraining.com/

Sisters of the Roundtable 3: Unity is Power – June 17

Labour Council’s Women’s Committee invites all sisters in struggle to attend this conversation on organizing for equality in our unions, workplaces & communities. Panelists and World Café will discuss: The Women’s March Movement; Organizing Against Islamophobia, Racism and Anti-Black Racism; Strikes and Union Organizing Success Stories

Saturday, June 17, 9 am-1pm, OPSEU Regional Office at 31 Wellesley St. E. Contact Mary Ellen McIlmoyle at unifor673@gmail.com or Laura Thompson at lthompson042482@gmail.com for more information or to confirm attendance. Light refreshments will be provided; childminding available – confirm childminding by June 10th; free registration.

Let’s RISE! Rally & March for Good Hotel Jobs – June 22

Over the last decade, through the Hotel Workers Rising campaign we have built hotel jobs into good stable jobs for thousands of Toronto residents, most of whom are immigrants, women and people of colour. Join UNITEHERE Local 75 as we organize together to take the next step forward, and help kick off the 2018 round of hotel bargaining. March to the Renaissance Rogers Centre, where new members of Local 75 are fighting to win their first union contract!

Thursday, June 22nd at 4:30pm at Fairmont Royal York Hotel (100 Front Street West) at 4:30pm, then march to the Renaissance Hotel Toronto Downtown (Rogers Centre, 1 Blue Jays Way)

Email info@uniteherelocal75.org for more information.

NDP Leadership Debate – June 22

The United Steelworkers will host a labour-focused debate between the NDP leadership candidates in Toronto on Thursday, June 22. It is the opportunity for each of the NDP leadership candidates on the pressing issues affecting workers, our families and our communities. All of the leadership candidates have been invited to the Toronto Leadership Debate: Labour, Justice and Our future, which will take place at the Isabel Bader Theatre at 7pm. Members of affiliated labour organizations will be encouraged to attend and submit questions. Register at http://ow.ly/eAIG30cyt4S