Retiree Chairperson’s Report– January  2018

Well the New Year is here so Happy New everyone. The first week was real cold. Fortunately, the weather got warmer in the second week of this month.

There is finally a real drive on for a national Pharmacare program with CLC making it a priority issue. Nobody in this country should be forced to choose between paying for groceries and paying for the medications they need.The Canadian Labour Congress and Niagara Regional Labour Council will be hosting a large meeting on the issue on March 1 at the Capri Club in Thorold. We should all be there. A big turnout will send a strong message to all levels of government and help to move the campaign for Pharmacare forward.

On January1, 2018 Ontario’s minimum wage increased to $14 hour an hour. The first company that started cutting workers’ benefits in response was Tim Horton’s. Workers there with 1-5 years of service at some locations will now have to pay 75% of their benefits. At one location the company is no longer paying for their workers’ breaks. This was at the Tim Horton’s at 770 Division St. in Cobourg, Ontario. The next up to bat was a Tim Horton’s outlet in Scarborough. Workers there were banned from accepting tips due the wage hike. The owner is keeping tips for the company. This is no different than wage theft. The Ministry of Labour should be levelling large fines on Tim Horton’s under the provisions of the Employment Standards Act.

Here we have one of the biggest cash cows in Canadian history being the first employer to try to take things back from their workers like their benefits and tips simply because poorly paid workers finally got a real raise. McDonalds here I come.