June 22nd, 2021
June 22nd, 2021
The letter to Monte McNaughton
Monte McNaughton
Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development
14th Floor
400 University Ave.
Toronto, ON
M7A 1T7
Dear Minister,
Recently you announced a new “Workforce Recovery Advisory Committee” to “shape the future of work in our province”. While the committee has plenty of representation for employers, law and academia it is sadly lacking any voice for working people. In a committee looking at “the future of work” that is a serious problem.
There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed long-standing problems facing far too many working people today: the lack of reliable full-time jobs, absence of workplace protections like paid sick days, contracting out by employment agencies. More and more working people find themselves working multiple part-time jobs without benefits or protections just to make ends meet. While we praised “essential workers” during the pandemic, the government has done little to improve their lives. In fact, under Premier Doug Ford, this government has moved in the opposite direction.
An Advisory Committee that is shaping “the future of work” should be fixing these problems. A good first step would be ensuring that organized labour and worker advocates were represented on this committee. Will you do that Minister?
Sincerely,
(original signed)
Peggy Sattler
NDP Critic for Labour and Democratic Reform
Wayne Gates
NDP Critic for Workplace Health and Safety; Training, Trades & Apprenticeships