EI is the most important income security program for workers faced with unemployment, but current eligibility criteria allow only 40% of male workers to qualify for benefits in the face of unemployment. This number decreases to 32% for unemployed women.
Having access to EI ensures that families can avoid falling into poverty while they seek employment that matches their skills or have the opportunity to receive valuable training which will improve their employment opportunities.
It is time for the federal government to use the accumulated surplus in the EI fund which reaches over $50 billion on the workers who need it the most, particularly as we head into a period of economic insecurity.
Eligibility requirements should be restored to 360 hours, with benefit levels based on the best 12 weeks of earnings at 60% of earnings as a minimum.
In honour of Joseph Zuken and his legacy of social activism and in collaboration with the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg. This Advocacy Toolkit has been made possible with funding from the Zuken Memorial Association.
This toolkit is designed to help individuals and groups find strategies, actions and resources that will help them in advocating to end poverty.
Thanks to all who made contributions that strengthened this kit. If you have a suggestion for other resources that can be added or need clarification, please contact us at liyugu@familyservicetoronto.org.
Joe Zuken was born in Ukraine in 1912. His family immigrated to Canada in 1914 and settled in Winnipeg’s North End when it was home to thousands of Eastern European immigrants. He attended a Jewish secular school where he developed a love for Yiddish culture and language. He later attended the University of Manitoba, graduating with a Law degree. As a young lawyer he joined the Communist Party of Canada and intervened in struggles for workers rights and anti-fascist movements. During the Second World War he defended dozens of people who had been stripped of their civil rights and interned without trial.
In 1941 Zuken was elected to Winnipeg's school board and fought for the establishment of kindergartens, free textbooks, increased public housing and higher salaries for teachers. In 1961, after serving on the school board for twenty years he was elected to Winnipeg's city council. As an alderman he fought for public housing, public hospitals and rights of the poor. While continuing to practice Law, he helped to establish legal aid clinics for low income people, did considerable pro-bono work on their behalf, lobbied for welfare rights and supported community advocacy organizations.
Following an unsuccessful Mayoralty bid in 1979, Zuken remained an alderman until his retirement in 1983 due to poor health. Zuken remained a popular politician having held public office for 42 years, first as a School Trustee, then as an Alderman. He was the longest serving member of the Communist Party to hold public office in North America. Following his death in 1986, family and friends established the Joseph Zuken Memorial Association and Trust Fund to honour his legacy and to provide grants to charitable organizations for projects consistent with Joe Zuken’s interests.
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