REPORTS

FAIRNESS FOR CONTRACT WORKERS: Submission to the Changing Workplaces Review  

Submission sent to the Ontario government's commission to update labour laws and standards

RECENT Media

Foodora couriers are now dependent contractors—that's a problem for Big Tech

Andrew Cash: The Ontario Labour Relations Board decision throws into question the status of workers on all platforms: Uber, Lyft, TaskRabbit, and more. And it opens a huge opportunity for the labour movement. (March 2020)

The Prime Minister finally addressed independent workers, and it's one step in the right direction

Andrew Cash: Until now, it's been acceptable for employers and governments to shrug off any responsibility for freelancers, contract, gig workers.

Public policy must create standards for independent workers

The rise in independent work requires innovative public policy that connects to and supports today’s workers. 

The Gig Economy

Besides offering no workplace benefits, pension or job security, most new jobs provide little protection under existing labour laws.

The Future of Work: Taking care of freelancers

As independent workers become a key source of labour, will business and government offer them a safety net?

App for picking up spare shifts eyes Vancouver expansion

A Toronto-based app that allows young workers to get hired for individual shifts for jobs like dishwashing and scooping ice cream first came online a year ago. Amid uncertainty about whether app users have the full protection of labour laws, Hyr is now looking to expand to Vancouver.

Broaden labour market stats to include job quality indicators, advocate says

As Canada experiences a record-low unemployment rate, some are warning the metrics used to measure the health of the workforce for over 70 years don’t say enough about the quality of the jobs created or lost.

Ontario groups seeking retirement income for all

New plans to put focus on part-time workers and the self-employed.

A Labour Day Wish List for the NDP

Union leaders and workers’ advocates set nine goals for a new government facing an ‘enormous amount of work to do.

What it’s like to be a downtown food delivery cyclist: Micallef

The whole notion of occupational health and safety doesn’t seem to be included in the business plan of much of this kind of work. In other words, all the risk is shouldered by the cyclist.

How do students live on unpaid internships?

Western University student worries a 4-month unpaid internship will mean not paying the rent.

Hard At Work: This woman claims company fired her after she complained about unpaid wages

Sandra Starr believes independent contractors have no recourse if they're being treated poorly.

Budget provides some relief for precarious workers

In a nod to the rise of precarious work, the federal government has pledged $13 million to crack down on wage theft and moved to ban most forms of unpaid internships.

How to afford kids when you’re not rich

The gig economy doesn’t have to end when the parenting begins.

University graduates juggle jobs of varying certainty

As the reality of working increasingly becomes a mash-up of contracts, self-employment, part-time gigs and career shifts, how can universities help grads adjust to a constantly changing labour landscape?

Companies exploit millennials, pushing them toward poverty

The Urban Worker Project's Stephanie Nakitsas says her organization is striving to improve working conditions for young people in precarious jobs.

Millennials turning to side hustles for extra cash in trying times

Precarious job situation has many working extra gigs.

A new voice for labour in a world of precarious work

The Urban Workers Project seeks to mobilize young professionals in freelance, part-time, and contract jobs and lobby for better protection.

Contract Jobs, ‘Flexible’ Work Open Door for Employer Abuses

Group organizing to push for changes to employment laws to reflect new work reality.