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Solidarity explosion for the former employee of Antidote

After two years to get involved in volunteer IWW Communication Committee, I had never seen it. Little Sarah history, dismissed the counter vegan Antidote to days of Christmas, and that after experiencing bullying and abuse of power, went viral.

In less than 24 hours, words of hope and gestures of solidarity poured in from all sides. Ten of thousands of views on our blog, I almost feel like work for Your Small or vice Look, with the difference that in the comment section, it was a love breathtaking Sarah received instead of the traditional look forward mails.

There is a modern version of Christmas Carol. In 2017, just days before the Eve, a young dynamic entrepreneur that imbued itself, owner of a trendy restaurant in a neighborhood undergoing gentrification process, dismisses his employee.

Mention it before going further : dismiss an employee e-restoration in the middle of December, Also as to wish him a Christmas without gifts or to offer small dishes to be made to Eve, is wish him a happy three or four months of unemployment, no unemployment, the time the basins of the industry to reopen the arrival of spring.

Through a friend, Sarah came into contact with the ghost of Combat Unionism who agreed to share her story. You know the rest, the story became viral and social media were inflamed. If we were in a Christmas story, at the end of the third act, the owner would have repented, but the reality of the bosses-employee-s relationships being what it is, she published earlier tearful text to explain that from the depths of his success, it's a little she actually suffered.

Everything was, she is young and has so much to learn, she did not know that you could not fire someone morally-e by text. She was forced to fire her now, cheap shot par on text, because the warning two weeks in advance and allow time for the employee to prepare (as bosses ask us), fitait it not in its priorities. It looked like a caricature all output module right on employer responses in the Organization of Training 101 IWW.

In parallel crocodile tears of the patron who, to believe what we see on Facebook, have not touched anyone other than two or three owners in similar situations or close friends, Those are former-born employees who have contacted us to tell us of similar experiences, the story of a small producer in the Gaspé had trouble getting paid rebounded, and many and many other workers restoring explaining recognize themselves in this situation so too frequent. But perhaps more importantly, People from all over Montreal have written to express their sympathy and offer their solidarity to Sarah.

Between the words of encouragement, such a free room, this one has a sofa available if needed, this one is food for the dog, another heard about a job and those on temporary contracts, see offer permanent jobs to offer. Class consciousness, ras-le-bol hellish working conditions of the restaurant industry or simply the spirit of Christmas? No matter for now, solidarity beyond all our expectations and for that, by Sarah, but all and all members of the IWW, we offer our sincere thanks and wish you a great holiday season.

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Photo credit: Katerine-Lune Rollet, February 2015.
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Agreement at Frite Alors! Rachel

Friday 15 December 2016, the employees of Frite Alors! Rachel finally venu.es an agreement with the employer. A major shift for the Wobblies who take openly storefront in Montreal and a first for the labor movement that saw the birth of new ways to operate outside of the legal framework limitations.

We remember that the Press release send it 27 August to announce their affiliation to the Industrial Union of Workers and Workers - Industrial Workers of the World (SITT-IWW), included a list of items they wanted to see and they change their workplace. It talked among other kitchen salary increases and service, annual increases, standardization of training, a priority internally when opening new positions, a guaranteed floor of hours, of compensation for shifts in stand-by and sick leave.

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un.e testimony of a member of the IWW Quebec for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

Here is a testimony of un.e member of the IWW-Québec:

"On this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, I can only feel deep class solidarity with those bearing the brunt of the powerful. Myself from a poor background, I feel always in my body and my mind the weight of having to fight against the devastation and trauma inherited from this form of violence : economic violence. In my opinion, poverty n 'is not a fatality output any nature right, it is planned by the economic elite so that they retain their privileges and we have the power to stop.

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I am a waitress, how the 15-5-7 it concerns me? And how to get there?

Since I have 14 years, I work in the restaurant industry. It means that since I 14 years I have seen all happening right colors and shit wages. But I was lucky, I started hostess and have always had a little tip. Arrival at the stage of the apartment, I was a waitress, which guaranteed me a comfortable financial cushion.

Last spring, while looking for a job, I have not managed to find one right away in the service and that is where I lived, or rather tried to live, minimum wage. I have not just theory behind the $ 15 / hr, but I have lived. It is not true that at 10,55 / h is able to pay his rent, eat well and move. The minimum wage to $ 15 / hr, it means stop asking if I have enough money to take the metro instead of walking 1 hour winter to -40 ° C. It also means that, for the parents, a job each to 40h / week could be enough.

We'll tell, I have 21 years, no children and no other responsibility to take care of myself. If in my situation it's difficult, I imagine even what is for my colleagues who have children.

As employee to tip what does that mean the $ 15 / hr ?

In the industry in which I work, there are two positions towards the minimum wage to $ 15 / hr. There are people for, often working in the kitchen and there we, the waitresses, frankly, unless you work in a snack, we find well above that with a tip. We see what is difficult to win with the $ 15 / hr, but what's to lose.

As waitress, is often touted the idea that the service is a bit like winning the lottery ; one makes the pallet. I believe almost even, at least that is so ingrained that I want to believe. But when I think, except the girls my age, often begin, women and men emancipated and affluent in their so paying job in the service, I have never seen. My first job was a great job : small upscale restaurant on the edge of Quebec, as waitresses with women in their forties amount and small items, people of 14 years, like me at the time. Worse I reminds me of those women, Angels, super nice, who are in the industry for their 14 years. Except that they are also women who have tall tales about the industry. Women who never had a leave of their lives, which is returned when they became pregnant, who have substance use problems, money problems over the head, healths problem, but no insurance, nothing, as peanuts.

Worse in my second job, we were all between 20 and 25 years. We had money to spend and four days 12 h file are easier to toffer with something in the body that fasting. That when you think, this is normal 20 years later in this industry, we had problems worse is that much poquées. The lottery service I really want to believe, because it meant that we are told that our job is not as bad as that of the cook. But if it's really worse than lotto to win we maganne, I do not see how the tip is worth the effort.

Worse and more what we forget is that it contributes to our pension, on unemployment, on vacation, $ 9.05 / hr. In the background we forget that in the moment, arriving by mass y, but as soon as one gets sick, our boss we have found quite cute, it closes or you want a holiday, we are left with peanuts and, all of a sudden, we arrive there could Pantoute.

And we will tell, tip I do is not just of my smile, often there is the "do my food was good" and "Is it took 1 hour or 20 minutes to receive my food ". Since that time 7 years I am in the industry and from 7 years I see waitresses and cooks fight on the pay issue. It would be so much healthier and just all that is $ 15 / hr and share tip. Not just that, the "I accept the malaisante familiarity customers" would become much less necessary, could breathe, and keep the same quality of life.

Why 5 weeks of paid vacation and 7 days of paid sick leave ?

The $ 15 / hr is really the checkmark when you have a salary of $ 10.55 / hr, it's just if we manage to believe. Except that 5 day week, 52 weeks a year, unless you have the chance to be there for over a year and hast 2 weeks less, it is just not healthy. What is it for $ 15 / hr when you can not blow ? Worse yet our boss them in offers holiday, on our backs. Because you will agree that if my boss made so much money, it's not because he works more than me, it is because he had the idea and resource to leave his company. The 5 week vacation, it is basically to go get our of as work force. We create profit, you can ask enjoy it too. It's that simple.

It makes 7 years I worked in catering, that means jsais not what's sick leave. Not only take leave because we are sick we often is a written warning or loss of employment, but it also means a day's pay and that loss, we can not afford it.

Worse actually, the majority of people will say it's ED-LASS-GUEU to know that the majority of restaurant employees are not leave when they gastro, because "hey, jla eat this food there myself !». Yes. It's disgusting, but the rent is not paid by himself, sorry. The 7 sick days paid leave is like 5 week vacation : it's a big minimum. And there is not demand that they be paid only if taken, non. It was requested that, taken or not, diseases leave is paid. It means : no apology from the boss on the fact that there was no doctor paper and no need for justification for the charge.

How it will be possible to get there ?

The 15-5-7, it is possible and it's a big minimum. More, the only way it happens permanently, is that is organized in our workplaces. When we see gains in elections, these gains are temporary if they decide to give, they may decide to remove. We saw often, as the Parti Québécois has long been put forward by the unions during elections. But in fact, this is the party that has the most special laws in place. The election rhetoric I can not believe, it makes 7 jvois years the world of my industry in shit and now am also jle, I think even less. The policy of the rich not for me, projects not concern me, mine is on my workplace and notes with my colleagues in opposition to the interests of our bosses.

Walking through the base and the self-organization of workplaces, creating a momentum. What is happening, it is a movement. When we organize our workplaces, we organized with our colleagues and our colleagues engage in the fight against their direct opponent : employers. What we want, it is not a few people who convince the masses. The problem with trying to "convince", is that another can also be done against you. What we want, is that it comes from us ; because when it comes from the base, from US, the gain is solid. When we fight for something, that wins, if it takes us, we react. When we feel that we gave, if you lose, we resign ourselves.

At the IWW is believed that this is the organization that can really win and overturn the balance of power. It is organized in our workplaces with our colleagues. In theory, it's really nice to say that it will happen through elections, but the real power is in our workplaces, worse my colleagues and I know better how bin into place a government or any other group speaking through his hat. At the IWW it works through the base. Basically, when my job is going to unionize, we will do it in our own terms, we will have our own demands and our means of action. Intersectoral Local shall have no right of decision, except if requested. If we want to go on strike, we will not. But if instead you want to go, watch out, there is someone who can stop us.

What we do, is to talk with our colleagues, because their problems, OUR problems, are what make it collects, worse that shows solidarity. I have a colleague that if you talk to him about your problems, she sympathize, but hell no it was not embark on something for you, Yes, that's the individualism. But when you ask what is wrong with job, she has a heavy heart and wants to fight for what the key if she knows she is not alone.

Never someone leading a campaign will be sent. À l’IWW on a la célèbre phrase «every worker’s an organizer». It's from all of us : any worker / any worker is an organizer / an organizer, it's not just a central committee, not a meeting, and if we want to organize it organizes itself and is. It is we who know best how it should be in our workplaces, not my boss, not my activist friend, we ; it is we who can make it possible, that change. What it does, to organize, is that we become more sure of ourselves, Taking the reins and it gives the taste of acting.

The 15-5-7 we will tell, it's a wicked good idea. Except that we will also tell, there is a beautiful pattern in some precarious industries that wants the opponent is not my boss, but my colleagues. Because the cook not strength enough to make beautiful plates worse than X has a pay section than me. Yes, we all made form a view of the "natural event" worse it looks like this. worse there, that, it blurs the cards, because for the 15-5-7 works, We have to be held elbows. Worse competition, it does the opposite.

Me, the only tactic I've seen work to secure my colleagues, it is the organization. Worse organization on issues that affected everyone, even my add managers. Worse from it are increased demands, worse ways to pressure. It's not true that from the beginning everyone will want the $ 15 / hr. But one point, when it's been months, see for years you fight against the same opponent with your colleagues, on the problems that have affected you in the beginning, bad times not, bad times worse just you not him, ben you come to ask why wages are not fairer. What makes all of a sudden, because he helped me when my boss was harassing, because I helped him when he needed up 50 cennes, etc., share my tip is really equally logical that initially.

And then we will tell, it's quite as reformist request. What is required is not the abolition of exploitation, nor the abolition of wage labor. It just requires a greater share of profits from our bosses and a better lifestyle. Except that somewhere, until arriving at the beautiful society projects we try to sell me bad left right, I would like it to pay my rent, I want it bad eating nothing but sandwiches that are free to my job. Pis in all this, wanting the $ 15 / hr worse vacation and sick leave pay, we fight. When we organize among workers, it creates a stronger class, it shows solidarity and reverses the balance of power.

as worker, I was taught to think it was impossible to change things unless I became manager. I was taught to criticize my colleagues who were not double and refer to my bosses if there was a problem on the floor. With the organization and the IWW, I started to see, is that the interests of my bosses do not have a workplace with internal cohesion. Competition between waitresses and rivalry kitchen Service is a good example of what serves employers. Divide and rule, does that remind you of something ? Well here's a good example !

By organizing and solidarizing our workplaces, can make possible this kind of gain. We can win what is asked. We empower and we understand that deserves more. By reversing the balance of power, a barrier is broken and comes closer to the abolition of the wage.

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Speech Morgane Mary Parson, rerprésentante the SITT-IWW forum for Montreal 15-5-7, in February. Published for the first time in the edition of May 2016 Combat Trade Union.

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For the 15-5-7, not inevitable, we must organize and fight!

While it goes without saying that the movement for 15$ /h Quebec has not yet reached the stage of mobilization and visibility which was granted in the past year, he still managed to register as an integral part of the strategy of several community groups and union.

With his forum 15-5-7 organized in February, the Montreal local of the ISTC-IWW put his hands dirty by combining a hundred people goshawks of the speakers from various backgrounds. The 15 april 2016 marches were held in many Canadian cities. Taking this opportunity, Coalition met in February is called into action and regrouped at Jean-Talon metro to scroll the Plaza St. Hubert. Today, Quebec twenty unions, political and community support for the fight 15$ /h. We will take a few lines below to warmly greet some struggles led the field, either those of the orderlies, Union of employé.es Old Ports and McGill salarié.es.

The préposé.es to bENEFICIARIES whoident including health care, Mobility, to food and to the accompaniment of the sick or with disabilities (for example, in situations of aging and / or disability) earn on average 12,50$. The préposé.es are engagé.es by state, but also by private agencies and savings companies. The fight for increased floor salari13087421_1166449666712562_3629811911288487886_nale conducted by various union offices began there more than three years, but Pmakes an unprecedented scale, especially on the side of SQEES-FTQ is in renewal collective agreement. Since last fall, they and they took the opportunity also to multiply the actions of visibility such demonstrations and leafleting. Having early adopt a strike mandate affecting over 3000 members, the 10, 30 and 31 Last May were 42, then 38 private residences for seniors who were paralyzed. Or, it was no where a warning from the union. Warning that the government would had to listen, since an indefinite strike will occur at the 21 June in thirty residences.

On their side, the 300 Union members employé.es society of the Old Port (AFPC) are collective agreement renewal process since March 2016, but fighting for the $ 15 / hr since last fall. A petition was first launched their workplaces, followed by distribution of leaflets and pamphlets emphasizing the historical precedent and solidarity. The executive believes it has successfully reached 80% members and organized the action flash 28 January at an open day organized by their employers. The 27 May 1 strike was declared exerting economic pressure on their employers as the surrounding shops. from the very beginning, the Union of the company's employees from the Old Port is present in almost all events for $ 15 / hour, putting together at the forefront of their strategy.

15_and_fairFinally, it is under the banner of 15$ and fairness Mcgill eight Associatiounion ns, students and district gathered at the beginning of the year 2016 for wages and decent living conditions for salarié.es and subcontractors McGill. Although their first official action was to participate in the demonstration on 15 april, the militant.es chained several actions : a panel, an orientation day and video capsules to disseminate information.

These are just a few of many examples showing that for $ 15 / hour, 5 weeks off and 7 sick days, we can not let go to fatality, we must organize and fight!

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Half of canadien.nes are 200$ almost did not happen

CALGARY- A recent survey in the month of January suggests that almost half of Canadians are at $ 200 / month for failing to pay their bills and make the minimum payments required to pay off debts.

The poll Ipsos Reid also announced that almost a quarter of 1,582 people contacted are already unable to make their payments.

31% of survey line, carried out between 27 and 29 January 2016 on behalf of MNB Debt, declare, inter alia, that any increase in interest rates could push personal bankruptcy.

Ipsos Reid conducted the survey about a week after the Parliamentary Budget Officer has published a report revealing that Canada experienced the largest increase in household debt relative to income, All G7 countries since 2000.

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Let's talk about the minimum wage !

A reluctance to increase its

The main reluctance to 15$ time as minimum wage increase that amount to cut jobs and / or raise prices.

This request for an increase frightens the main industries where e-s-employee are paid-e-s minimum wage, to know : Trade details, the accommodation and food1 because they fear that their survival depends and must then lay off the employee-s and / or the key under the door.

According to the study2 professors Michael Lynn and Christopher Boone, even when the restaurants raise their prices according to the increase in salaries of their employee-s, there is no significant change in the influx of customers nor in the profit and therefore restorers, not in the number of employee-s. In fact, they even attended greater productivity of these.
Yet according to a study3 conducted in Pennsylvania and New Jersey by professors David Card and Alan Krueger, raising the minimum wage leads to no job losses.

And to finish, according to economic analyst David Cooper4, in fact, increase the minimum wage could even lead to the creation of more jobs and more moderate increase in economic activity.

The argument that the increase in the minimum wage would cause job loss, lost profits or even handicap the overall economy then falls. Austerity or fear of bankruptcy are no longer arguments for denying minimum wage increase.

The importance of the minimum wage increase

According to Philippe Hurteau and Minh Nguyen, Researchers at IRIS, “for a single person living in Montreal, a wage 15.38$ Time is needed [to have a living wage]5

Indeed, the minimum wage in Quebec 10.55$ does not allow a worker or a worker pursuing his full-time job, meet these needs, even the most basic, because they and they find themselves under the poverty line. The increase in 15$ Time would allow this population of workers and working poor, because that is what he is, to achieve a decent quality of life, viable.

In 2015, work full time to 10.55$ Time equals win 21 944$ per year. The poverty line is at 22 831$ per year (in 2014). With 15$ /h, annual income would shift to 28 800$, barely 6 000$ above the threshold.
This is far from the account if it is found that the 1
is May 2016, the minimum wage will increase to 10.75$ /h, either 0.20$ per hour. Apparently, this augmentation (from 1.9%) will be greater than inflation (from 1.5%) but the fact remains that the cost of the market basket increase of 2% and 4%6 in 2016, and this without mentioning energy costs are also increasing, the price of public transport etc..

The number of minimum wage workers in Quebec increased from 163 500 in 1998 at 210 200 in 20147, and, against popular belief, more than half of the employee-s are not student-e-s and work full time. We are witnessing here a significant increase of poor workers who have multiple jobs in order to make ends month and meet their basic needs for their survival.

Workers and working poor

It is indeed a reality today in Quebec. The work is not synonymous with sustainability and even less dignity because it is often synonymous with little holiday and not get sick (with little rest in the amount of leave to which they are entitled and they). We are not even talking about the employee-e-s gratuity which only affects 9.05$ /h (and that will affect 9.20$ the 1is May 2016) and live the vagaries of goodness and influx of e-s-client on their workplace ...

A minimum wage 15$ /h, it's not luxury !

This is just viable !

1 According to the Statistical Institute of Quebec, Ministry of Labor of Quebec (ISQ)

2 Have minimum wages increases hurt the restaurant industry? The evidence says NO! Dr.. Michael Lynn and Dr.. Christopher Boone de la Cornell University’s school of Hotel Administration.

3 Minimum wages and employment: a case study of Fast Food industry in New Jersey and Pennsylvania professors David Card and Alan Krueger

4 Raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 would lift wages for millions and provide economic boost David Cooper, 19 December 2013

5 What is the living wage ? Calculation for Montreal and Quebec 2015 Philippe Hurteau and Minh Nguyen, Researchers at IRIS, april 2015

6 According to Sylvain Charlebois, professor of food distribution and policies of the University of Guelph

7 Figures from the ISQ