''Justice for Workers: Decent Work for All'' (previously ''Fight for $15 and Fairness'') is a Canadian campaign and movement focused on the rights and remuneration of low-wage workers.

History

The ''Fight for $15 and Fairness'' campaign was launched in the spring of 2015, following the ''

Fight for $15 The Fight for $15 is an American political movement advocating for the minimum wage to be raised to USD$15 per hour. The federal minimum wage was last set at $7.25 per hour in 2009. The movement has involved strikes by child care, home health ...

'' campaign launch in the US in 2012.Bush, David, and Rawan Abdelbaki.
Fight for $15 and Fairness
" ''Global Labour Research Centre'' (2016): 1-7. Initially the campaign focused on the unmet needs of low-wage workers in precarious employment in

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

. In April 2015, the campaign organized Ontario-wide demonstrations. After the passing of the Making Ontario Open for Business Act, 2018 reduced the

Ontario Government The government of Ontario (french: Gouvernement de l'Ontario) is the body responsible for the administration of the Canadian province of Ontario. A constitutional monarchy, the Crown—represented in the province by the lieutenant governor— ...

's commitment to minimum wage, protesting continued on a smaller scale. During 2020 and 2021, the campaign's activates expanded into

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...

and

Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...

. In January 2022, the Ontario government raised minimum wage to $15 and in 2022, the campaign rebranded as ''Justice for Workers'' and (referencing the increased costs of living) started campaigning for a $20-per-hour minimum wage.

Impact

The campaign has "terrified"

Restaurant Brands International Restaurant Brands International Inc. (RBI) is a Canadian-based multinational fast food holding company. It was formed in 2014 by the $12.5 billion merger between American fast food restaurant chain Burger King and Canadian coffee shop and res ...

, the owners of

Tim Hortons Tim Hortons Inc., commonly nicknamed Tim's, or Timmie's is a Canadian multinational coffeehouse and restaurant chain. Based in Toronto, Tim Hortons serves coffee, doughnuts, and other fast-food items. It is Canada's largest quick-service rest ...

, and the campaign was credited with the inclusion of a $15 federal minimum wage in the 2021 Canadian federal budget.

References

{{reflist

External links

Justice for Workers

Fight for $15 and Fairness
Labour disputes in Canada 2015 labor disputes and strikes Labour disputes in Ontario