What is the Urban Worker Movement?

I stumbled upon a story today that got me a bit excited. It's called the Urban Worker Movement.

Urban worker is a Canadian collaborative of people who are freelancers, in-between jobs, Millennials burdened with student loans and other caring citizens. They are concerned about worker rights and those who can't find stable jobs and professionals who recognize there is a gap. A gap in the safety net of labor codes and people without adequate social support. The trend of unpaid internships is one of the causes that got them started. 

They want to discuss and bring awareness to the fact that a lot of folk either have precarious jobs, or semi-jobs of unincorporated freelancers, basically forgoing and don't have access to employment insurance, dental, benefits, retirement savings and aren't protected by worker unions.

Millennials are no strangers to delayed adulthood and delayed decision making with regards to major life decisions due to financial burdens (such as major student loans) and the lack of social support that comes with periods of unemployment, poverty and a rising household debt to disposable income ratio. 

Started in Toronto, the two founders want to stand up for more ethical treatment of an increasingly dangerous society where the lines are blurring between workers and those who barely scrape by in a post-recession economy: 

The organization is just in incubation and growth mode, and for now is mostly just an educational movement, a website, a bit of viral word-of-mouth recruitment.

But in a world where the economy is tough for post-graduates and with looming automation of many jobs, these kinds of organizations will become increasingly important in years to come. In many countries, the youth must migrate to find work. 

These are the kinds of campaigns this organization cares about: 

We are building a movement for change. We can work to end unpaid internships and make sure we get paid on time. We can gain better access to health and dental benefits, income security between gigs, and parental leave. Most full time, permanent employees have access to these things and with your help we can make sure urban workers can too.

If you want to join, sign up here.  There mission statement is as follows: 

The Urban Worker Project is a new initiative to give a stronger voice to the growing numbers of independent workers across the country (Canada). Together we will:

• Advocate for a better future for urban workers. That means building campaigns and taking political action on issues like improved access to health and dental benefits, better pay and protections for contract and freelance workers, access to parental leave and more.

• Communicate with Canadians about the issues facing contract, freelance and self-employed workers in the new economy.

• Build community by hosting events and finding creative ways to help provide services that urban workers need - like affordable co-working spaces. They hope to spread to other Canadian cities soon. 

Do you think society needs more organizations like this? What are other risks of being an on-demand worker or freelancer you have experienced etc..? Do you have a Millennial story of overcoming adversity  through economic trials?