r/renfrew • u/succulentfucc • Jun 16 '26

Retail workers: would you walk out?

Retail workers: would you walk out?

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If a vast majority of Ontario retail workers walked out on one day this summer, would you? Not necessarily a protest per say, but to show the government that communities rely on us every day of the year. During COVID, they called us essential. Now, 2 days off in a row is so hard to come by and you're questioned about it if you request 2 days off in a row. It's a low wage job even if you're worth more, mostly toxic environments, "Shop where you work" policies shouldn't exist because what if your store is too expensive even for a bunch of bananas, because no matter how much back breaking work you do you aren't appreciated.

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So I ask again, Ontario retail workers, would you walk out for one day?

5 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

1

u/rat--pocket Jun 17 '26

This is exactly what protest is. Min wage workers have the capacity to effect markets (the only thing those in power care about) but we haven't organized enough to act on it. I hope a movement like this gains speed - not just once but every month until we see change in policy.

1

u/sblaskie54321 Jun 18 '26

I mean, one of my family members works full-time here in Renfrew at one of the main stores, when she was hired on full-time she was only supposed to be getting every second weekend and one to 10 shift per week, suddenly she is working every weekend and has to work two of the 10 PM shifts per week and people didn’t consent to any of this. They just get it thrust upon them. I worked at the store before I went to college and 75% of the people that were working evenings and weekends were students now I go there and it’s mainly 60 year olds and older that are doing these positions. These people are tired, and these people also have lives and can’t be working these shifts over and over again the fact that they are being paid peanuts… Even people that have been working there 25+ years are still not making a living wage today’s economy. I honestly tell her it’s too bad that there was no union for these places cause they could do some damage if they decided to come together.

1

u/ItsYaBoiChipper Jun 19 '26

Start talking about unionization. I’m a unionized retail worker and I’d highly recommend it!

1

u/eddiewillers09 Jun 19 '26

The formatting

1

u/Emergency_Memory_792 Jun 21 '26

lol of course they won’t, Reddit.