Caregivers Action Centre

Care Workers: We are getting organized!

A report back for current and former Caregivers

Care Workers in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Montreal came together on Sunday, November 18, 2018, to tell the government to give us our rights. We spoke to the media and released a report with personal stories calling on Canada to treat Care Work with respect and dignity. We are not alone, 14 Care Worker organizations have come together to work in preparation for this campaign. We call ourselves “Landed Status Now: Care Workers Organize!” We will be doing several actions as Care Workers to get the government to do what we need them to do.

Below is how we got here – you can be part of this movement! Click here to share your information with us and we will contact you!.

 

10 things you need to know about the Landed Status Now! Campaign

1. Why are we calling ourselves Care Workers, not Caregivers? Care Workers have been coming to Canada over a century. We want Care Workers to be recognized for the work and the skills that we do. We are workers, not givers. Landed Status Now! Calls on the government of Canada to make better laws for migrant Care Workers. We want to come with Permanent Residency together with our families, just like everybody else. We want changes to workers already in Canada. See the Care Worker Fact Sheet here to see what we are asking for.

2. This ask is nothing new. Care Workers have been calling on the government for Landed Status since the 70s. When we started in the 70s, we had no path to PR. By asking for Landed Status – we were able to get a path. We have to ask for what we really want, always.  Care Workers in the past have pushed for this demand and led the way for us to be here right now. They have fought for us, now is our time to fight for all of us now and for the Care Workers to come. Together we can make this possible.

 

 

Here’s a photo of Care Workers from 1981 calling for Landed Status Now! – just like us.

 

3. Why now? The Caregiver program introduced in 2014 is expiring soon! There has been no replacement announced and we want to know what is going to happen to us, Care Workers. We deserve fairness. A lot of Care Workers are in the backlog and in the LCP, who have not gotten our papers – we too need our rights. We want the government to change the rules so that all of us get permanent residency and can call Canada our home. We believe no one should be left behind! Read here what we are asking for. We, Care Workers, are the leaders of this movement. This is our campaign.

4. How did we get here? Even though the ask has been around since the 1980s, Care Worker groups across Canada re-started our work in late 2017. First, we had meetings of Care Workers. Here’s a photo from one in February in Toronto – discussing what we want. A lot of issues came up and together we discussed that the only solution is Permanent Residency on Arrival together with our families.

Care Unity Meeting in Toronto, February 2018

5. Then we met with the government and told them what we wanted. These meetings took place across the country. We also gave the government a detailed policy report. Report link

6. We had more meetings. Care Workers reached out to other Care Workers in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and other places. We decided to do outreach in parks, churches, community centres and invited them to meetings and gatherings, where Care Workers ourselves shared our experiences in the program and how the new rules made it harder for us to stay in Canada. We did Mothers’ Day celebrations – here’s us in the media (Vancouver, Toronto )

7. We did a survey to workers to decide together what we wanted. From the survey, we heard that Care Workers across Canada wanted Landed Status Now.

8. We wrote a report – that report is here. We released that report with personal stories in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Montreal came together on Sunday, November 18, 2018, to tell the government to give us our rights.   Now the government is paying attention – look at Trudeau being asked to respond.

9. Creating a new permanent program with Landed Status on arrival is necessary for ensuring decent work, fairness and equality in the laws and policies of the country. Most people have the ability to change jobs, when they have a bad employer, or celebrate their children’s birthday, or sit by their parent’s bedside when they are ill. These are basic human rights and that’s all Care Workers are asking for. We deserve landed status now and be united with our families. We are not doing it just for ourselves – we provide care! And giving us our rights means better healthcare for everyone.

We are not doing this just for ourselves. We believe ALL migrants, including refugees, agricultural workers, students, and undocumented people should have landed status. We are stronger together!

10. What’s next? We are just getting started. The fight is not over until we get the rights we deserve. We encourage everyone to join or connect with a local organization to plan together on how to win our rights.

If you are a current or former care worker:

  • Sign the petition at www.LandedStatusNow.ca
  • Tell your friends and let them sign the petition
  • Regular meetings are being held in all the major cities– If you sign the petition, we will get in touch with you tell you where the next one closest to you is.
  • If you are in Toronto, come on Dec. 15, 2018 to 720 Spadina Ave., Suite 202 – email info@caregiversactioncentre.org to RSVP. Event link

More than 1000 people have already joined Migrant Care Workers’ Call for #LandedStatusNow

PLEASE SHARE on social media! And tag #LandedStatusNow and encourage people to sign the petition at www.LandedStatusNow.ca

Migrant Caregivers Call for #StatusNow on Mother’s day

Migrant caregivers took over Yonge-Dundas square, demanding to be treated as humans with full rights, not machines.

In Toronto, migrant caregivers took over Yonge-Dundas Square for Mother’s day on May 13, 2018 in a very successful action. Caregivers donned robot masks with banners, and signs that read #NOTaRobot blocking the major intersection of Yonge-Dundas demanding to be treated as humans with full rights, not machines. The action was organized to call for permanent status on landing for Caregivers. Following this, 10 caregivers in robot masks started a flash mob dancing to the song Beat it by Michael Jackson. They took off the mask mid-performance to signify an end to being treated as robots as they invited other caregivers and allies to join in the performance.

Migrant caregivers are organizing for our rights, join us! Caregivers are invited to come out on May 26th,1-4pm,720 Spadina Ave., Suite 223, Toronto.

“We can’t take care of our own families because we have been separated for years, and that’s why we are calling on the government to give us permanent residency upon arrival and to have their families with them when they get here.” said Caregivers Action Centre organizer Kara Manso.

“We are calling the government to be fair and to listen to us to want we want and what we need,” said Johnalyn Firmeza, a mother of two children, who moved to Canada in January 2004 and worked as a Live-in Caregiver. She is an active member of Caregiver Connections Education and Support Organization (CCESO).

“Now the government is trying to change the program and we want them to listen to us, those who live this life, and give us all permanent status right now.” said Maria Teresa Mercado Loaiza from Bolivia, to those gathered. She has been working in Canada as a caregiver since 2015.

Caregivers across Canada are united in demanding an open and transparent consultation process that prioritizes the voices and demands of caregivers.

“We have been fighting for better working conditions and we continue to fight for us, we have always been there fighting for you. Now is the time that you fight for us too! Together, we will win!” said Winnie Nyokabi to allies. Winnie is a caregiver from Kenya, also a Caregivers Action Centre member.

This action was co-organized by Caregivers Action Centre and Caregiver Connections Education and Support Organization (CCESO). It was supported by Migrante Canada, Migrante Ontario, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, No One Is Illegal – Toronto, Justice for Migrant Workers, Workers Action Centre and others.Caregiver Connections Education and Support Organization (CCESO) were among the groups present at the action to show solidarity as four caregivers spoke out.

Dozens of migrant caregivers were part of this action in Toronto. A cross country Day of Action with caregivers taking it to the streets in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia also happened at the same time. These actions took place as the federal government is quietly and secretly planning to change the Caregiver Program, set to expire in November 2019.

Here are links to the news coverage:

Toronto

CBC News: Migrant caregivers make Mother’s Day plea for permanent residency

Radio Canada: Family caregivers organize flash mobs to demand permanent residence

– CTV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZV3vWFHKgc

– Ming Pao: http://www.mingpaocanada.com/Tor/htm/News/20180514/tbe1_r.htm

– Photos: Migrant caregivers call for #statusnow on #mothersday

Let us continue organizing! Together we will win! Join us at our New Members meeting at Caregivers Action Centre.

 

You can see our full report CAC Submission Caregiver Program Consultation 2018, submitted on behalf of Caregivers Action Centre and the following groups:

Association for the Rights of Household Workers (ARHW), Alberta Caregivers Association, Caregiver Connections Education and Support Organization (CCESO), Eto Tayong Caregivers (ETC), Filipino Canadian Advocacy Network, Immigrant Workers Centre, InterPares, Kabisig Society of Fort Saskatchewan, Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers and Caregiver Rights, GABRIELA Ontario, Migrant Mothers Project, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, Migrant Workers Rights Canada, Migrante Alberta, Migrante Ontario, and PINAY Quebec.

 

Special Mother’s Day Celebration

Sunday, May 13th, 2:00pm @ Yonge-Dundas Square

 
WE CARE FOR YOU, SHOW SOME CARE FOR US!

We, the migrant caregivers who come to Canada to take care of the country’s children, elders, and people with disabilities, deserve to be cared for. We deserve to come to Canada with our families and permanent resident status. We do vital work that allows this society to function.

This Mother’s Day, we are inviting all current and former live-in and live-out caregivers, and those who want to show us appreciation, to a celebration at Yonge-Dundas Square. 

Caregivers: come ready to get spoiled, to meet with other caregivers, learn about what the federal government is doing, and get support. We will have surprise performances, gifts, opportunities for learning, snacks and beverages, and a lot of fun!

Friends/allies: bring a token of appreciation for a caregiver to show that you value caregiving work. Get in touch with the organizers to see how else you can contribute info@caregiversactioncentre.org.

If you are a caregiver and you would like to get involved in advance, please contact us at info@caregiversactioncentre.org or at 647-782-6633.

This event is co-hosted by Caregivers Action Centre (CAC) and Caregiver Connections Education and Support Organization (CCESO).

This Mother’s Day Celebration is part of a National Day of Action, where caregivers will be gathering together in cities across the country. The National Day of Action is co-organized by the Association for the Rights of Household Workers (Montreal), Caregivers Action Centre (Toronto), CCESO (Toronto), Filipino Canadian Advocacy Network, Filipino Workers Network BC, GABRIELA Ontario, Migrante Alberta, Migrante BC, Migrant Workers Centre (Vancouver, formerly West Coast Domestic Workers Association), Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers’ and Caregivers’ Rights (CDWCR), and Victoria Filipino Canadian Association.

Policy Submission: Caregivers Call for Landed Status on Arrival

Caregivers Action Centre, in collaboration with several Caregiver Organizations across the country, participated in recent Federal Consultations about the Caregiver Program. What we are hearing from caregivers across Canada, and what we have been hearing for decades, is that caregivers need to be able to come here with their families and Permanent Residency from day 1. We submitted the following policy recommendations to the Federal Government for them to review before putting any new policies in place. We will continue to mobilize and push for change so that all migrant caregivers can come here and stay here with their families, and have access to decent and dignified work and lives. You can see our full report CAC Submission Caregiver Program Consultation 2018, submitted on behalf of Caregivers Action Centre and the following groups:

Association for the Rights of Household Workers (ARHW), Alberta Caregivers Association, Caregiver Connections Education and Support Organization (CCESO), Eto Tayong Caregivers (ETC), Filipino Canadian Advocacy Network, Immigrant Workers Centre, InterPares, Kabisig Society of Fort Saskatchewan, Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers and Caregiver Rights, GABRIELA Ontario, Migrant Mothers Project, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, Migrant Workers Rights Canada, Migrante Alberta, Migrante Ontario, and PINAY Quebec.

National Call for Comprehensive Review of Caregiver Program

March 21, 2018

Caregiver Organizations across the country called on the Federal Government to conduct an open and transparent consultation process on the Caregiver Program that centres the voices of Caregivers. You can see the full Letter for Comprehensive Review CP 2018, or read it below.

____________________________________________________________________________

Dear Minister,

We, the undersigned, constitute a diverse group of community organizations from across the country dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights of migrant caregivers. We wish to address the government’s recent decision to launch a review of the caregiver pathways to permanent residency, the Caring for Children pathway and the Caring for People with High Medical Needs pathway. We are pleased to hear that a review is currently being conducted and that the government is committed to ensuring that caregivers continue to have access to permanent residency. However, we want to ensure a comprehensive consultation process that centres on those directly affected by the program, and any changes to it. As such, we are asking for the review process to be open to the public and transparent, and for caregivers to be consulted. We also want to ensure that the timelines and plans for the consultations and policy development be clearly laid out from the get-go, and that caregiver and advocate voices  be involved at every step. Many of the organizations and individual signatories to this letter have been individually invited to private consultations with the government. While we welcome the opportunity to have our voices heard, we must insist that this process be formalized and inclusive.

The need for a comprehensive review of the caregiver pathways cannot be understated. The 2014 reform of the Live-in Caregiver Program exacerbated the problems associated with that program, while the new pathways created hurdles which have unfairly prevented many caregivers from transitioning to permanent residency. Considering the invaluable contribution made by migrant caregivers to Canadian society and the economy as a whole, the growing demand for their services and, most importantly, their never-ending struggle to have their rights respected in Canada, the time to enact a fair and just immigration policy for these workers is long overdue. This can only be achieved if the government is actively engaged with migrant caregivers themselves and caregiver advocacy groups.

As such, we are requesting that the review include a formal, transparent and accessible process on the following issues:

  • The establishment of a fair and just permanent residency policy for all migrant caregivers;
  • Improving family unity for caregivers and their families;
  • Fair and reasonable transitional measures for caregivers who are working under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and may not be eligible for permanent residency due to the November 29, 2019 deadline.

In order for migrant caregivers to have the opportunity to fully participate in the consultation process, we ask that the government take into full consideration their demanding work schedules. We recommend that consultations take place on weekends and are announced with adequate notice to allow caregivers to make scheduling arrangements. Importantly, this would require that the public consultations and written submissions extend past the April 6th deadline set by IRCC. Finally, consultations should be held in all of the provinces and territories across Canada

Respectfully,

Anna Malla, Organizer, Caregivers Action Centre

Annette Beech, VFCCA Representative, Victoria Filipino Canadian Association

Ethel Tungohan, GABRIELA Ontario

Hannah Deegan, Project coordinator Association pour la Défense des Droits du Personnel Domestique (ADDPD)/Association for the Rights of Household Workers (ARHW)

Leah Evangelista Woolner, Vice-Chair, PINAY (Filipino Women’s Organization in Quebec)

Martha Ocampo, Caregiver Connections Education and Support Organization (CCESO)

Natalie Drolet, Staff Lawyer/Executive Director, Migrant Workers Centre

Syed Hussan, Coordinator, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change

 

 

 

Job Opportunity with CAC – Deadline May 4

ONTARIO EMPLOYMENT EDUCATION &
RESEARCH CENTRE
720 Spadina Avenue, Suite 223
Toronto, ON M5S 2T9
Tel 647-782-6633
April 14, 2018

Job Opportunity: Full time Experienced Organizer for Caregivers Action Centre
Full time position: 35 hours per week, 12 month contract to be renewed pending funding
Start date: as soon as possible
Deadline to apply: May 4th, 2018, 5:00pm
Annual Salary: $43,767-$57,267 and health benefits

The OEERC is seeking an experienced Organizer to support the work of one of our grassroots partners, Caregivers Action Centre. Caregivers Action Centre (CAC) is an organization of current and former caregivers that is committed to improving the lives and working conditions of caregivers. CAC believes that people who are directly affected by Temporary Foreign Worker Programs and Caregiver Programs should provide leadership in the struggle for fairness and dignity for caregivers.
Over the next year, CAC will address problems with the Federal Caregiver Programs and respond to government proposals to change the Caregiver Programs. On a provincial level, CAC will continue to work for improvements to labour laws affecting caregivers. Through this work, CAC will continue to outreach to and provide support for caregivers.

Summary of work areas:

  • Plan and implement outreach and organizing campaigns
  • Build organizational capacity by outreaching to caregivers and allies
  • Build relationships with caregivers that contact CAC (phone, email) and provide appropriate information and referrals
  • Coordinate skills development and leadership training for CAC members
  • Organize and co-ordinate meetings, community forums and ongoing communication with members and community partners
  • Participate in research, policy development, and organizing campaigns for immigration and labour reform
  • Develop appropriate educational and social media tools

Skills and Experience:

  • Demonstrated knowledge of the Caregiver Programs / Temporary Foreign Worker Programs
  • Demonstrated knowledge of immigration and labour laws affecting caregivers
  • Demonstrated experience providing information, referral, advocacy, and support with women, immigrant workers or low-wage workers, ideally
    when addressing workplace and immigration issues
  • Ability to develop work plans, meet deadlines, and work collaboratively
    with members
  • Ability to communicate clearly, demonstrate care and compassion, and to
    help foster positive interpersonal relationships in the group
  • Demonstrated experience supporting leadership development and building
    capacity with women, racialized communities, immigrant workers or low wage
    workers, ideally on workplace issues
  • Experience using web-based tools for communication such as Word Press,
    Mail Chimp, Nation Builder, Twitter, Facebook is an asset
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently and collectively
  • Strong planning and organization skills with ability to prioritize
  • Ability to work flexible hours is essential. Frequent evening and weekend
    work is a requirement of the job.

Submit cover letter and resume by email, mail, fax, or in person before 5 pm, Friday, May 4th to:

Hiring Committee
OEERC/Caregivers Action Centre
720 Spadina Avenue, Suite 223
Toronto ON M5S 2T9
Email: info@caregiversactioncentre.org “CAC Hiring” in Subject Line
Fax: 416-533-0137

Come make some art with us! Saturday, March 31st

Join CAC member Kara Manso in her workshop: “Art to Unite.” This workshop is for caregivers to learn some artistic tools for self expression while discussing some of the key issues we face as caregivers. No artistic experience necessary. Join us!

Waking up to $14!

Ontario Minimum Wage $14 as of January 1st, 2017

Today is the day! The general minimum wage increases to $14 an hour! And next January 2019, the wage will increase to $15 an hour. After that, the minimum wage will be adjusted on October 1 each year, to keep up with rising prices. Stay tuned for workshop opportunities with CAC about how to assert your right to the new minimum wage with your employer!

Also, effective today: workers will have two (2) paid days of emergency leave and an additional eight (8) days of unpaid leave. A worker need only to have worked for one (1) week before being eligible for this new emergency leave provision.

The new law makes it illegal for employers to misclassify workers as independent contractors. Furthermore, in the case of wage-theft, the new law makes it easier for workers to recover unpaid wages.

Employers can also no longer insist on high heels for work, unless higher heels are required for health and safety reasons.

And it is now a bit easier for all of us to join unions, thanks to some important changes.

But make no mistake; our Big Business opponents are already gearing up to spread misinformation as part of their campaign to oppose decent work.

Challenge the Chambers
A vocal opponent of the Fight for $15 and Fairness has been the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), through its “Keep Ontario Working” campaign of fear mongering. This campaign has been roundly criticized for relying on out-dated and sloppy research methodology to make exaggerated and unproven claims about the impact of decent wages. Such claims fly in the face of seven decades of peer-reviewed research that shows rising wages do NOT cause job loss or price inflation.

Ontario’s public colleges and universities are members of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and give undisclosed amounts of money to the Chamber for its lobbying efforts. If you believe our public colleges and universities should not be associated with questionable research practices or campaigns that run contrary to the interests of students, staff and faculty, then please sign and send an email now.

 Sign the letter: http://fairnessnow.ca/

The OCC’s Keep Ontario Working campaign is backed by some of the most notorious Big Business lobbyists that include:

  • Temporary agencies and their lobbyists like: ACSESS, ADECCO, and Randstad;
  • Food, restaurant, hotel and tourism lobbyists like: the Canadian Franchise Association, Restaurants Canada, Food and Consumer Products of Canada, Ontario Restaurant, Hotel and Motel Association, Food and Beverage Ontario, and Tourism Industry Association of Ontario;
  • Retail and grocery store lobbyists like: Retail Council of Canada, Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers; and
  • Information technology lobbyists and forest products companies like: Association of Canadian Consulting Businesses and Ontario Forest Industries Association.

As you can see, we will be up against some powerful interests in 2018. But we know that with your support, we can make sure that 2018 is the year we protect – and extend – $15 and Fairness to all.

If you haven’t done so already, please give to our Fight On! Fund (click here to donate) and help us stop the Big Business lobby from de-railing the $15 minimum wage and other important improvements in labour law.

Wishing you and yours a happy 2018!

Advocating for the right to Unionize

Ontario Government reviews rules that exclude Domestic Workers

The Ontario government announced on May 30, 2017 that it would conduct a review of Employment Standards Act (ESA) and the Labour Relations Act (LRA) exemptions and special rules. The ESA exists to maintain a basic floor of rights in the province for all workers, while the LRA exists to provide access to the constitutionally protected right to organize collectively into unions. Phase 1 of the review was launched October 18, 2017 to review eight occupations with exemptions and special rules under the ESA and Labour Relations Act (LRA), including Domestic workers.

Exemptions disproportionately affect racialized, migrant and women workers. Limits on access to employment standards are a feature of precarious employment and compound existing labour market disadvantage. Caregivers, and particularly those who come to Canada under the former Live-In Caregiver Program, under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, or on other restrictive work permits, need access to full labour rights. This will not only protect this group of primarily racialized, poor and working class women; it will also improve the standards of the caregiving sector, the work that makes all other work possible.

CAC has consistently heard from caregivers across Ontario that access to unionization and to all of the same employment standards as other workers in the province are necessary steps towards being able to live and work in dignity. Caregivers see these as two key steps toward the recognition of caregiving and other Domestic work as real work.

CAC broadly recommends that the Ministry strike both the ESA and LRA exemptions for Domestic Workers. CAC further recommends that the Ministry work closely with workers and advocates to develop a model of broader based bargaining for Domestic Workers. We urge Ontario to eliminate these exemptions and to take the necessary steps to ensure that caregiving work is free of exploitation and abuse, including by implementing the kinds of “broader based bargaining” strategies that would make collective action and worker power a reality for caregivers.

In the next phases of this exemption review, we would also recommend that the Ministry of Labour prioritize those industries where workers are most vulnerable, including sectors that rely heavily on migrant labour. In particular, we urge Ontario to ensure that the agricultural sector is included in the next phase of the review.

See below for our full submission:

CAC Submission ESA LRA Exemptions