Don't Make Us Work for Free! On September 17th, Ontario women started working for free because of the 29% wage gap between women and men. See the Ontario Equal Pay Coalition's Toronto Star Op Ed, "Ontario's gender pay gap cheats women workers ," and new "Don't Make Me Work for Free " sticker. Check out the website of the Equal Pay Coalition HERE for more information.
New funding for women's shelters; second stage housing programs! Read the Ontario government announcement HERE and our media response HERE .
On August 8, we met with members of Liberal Party on the Step it Up Platform for Parties. From L: Kathleen Murphy, Alex Johnston and Joanna Furse from the Party, with Step it Up! reps Lenore Lukasik-Foss, Erin Lee-Todd on conference phone and Eileen Morrow behind the camera. We had an informative meeting and look forward soon to more regarding concrete decisions on our Platform points.
On July 19th, the Women Against Poverty Collective 'took over' the courtyard of Toronto's Police Headquarters to continue their demands for housing for women experiencing violence. The action followed the June 3rd Women's Housing Takeover shut down with police horses and arrests of women protestors.
Andrea Horwath, NDP Women's Issues Critic, (right of picture) and members of the NDP research and policy staff met with Step it Up members to discuss the Platform for Parties. NDP response to the Platform was very positive.
The Step it Up--Women are Missing!! Committee in London launched the '10 Months--10 Steps' Campaign on June 21st, Aboriginal Solidarity Day. Each month the Committee will hold an event to highlight one of the 10 Steps.
Women in Toronto take housing empty for over 2 years, while thousands wait for low-income housing in the city. Police escorted the March to the site, then moved in with massive troops and horses to arrest the squatters and roust the supporters off the site by force. But more action to come...stay tuned.
