Amy Kishek

Labour Lawyer, Advocate and Podcaster, 

Advocate for policy and law reform in areas of workplace law and human rights, working on behalf of precarious and young workers.

Media

Yes, the city of Ottawa needs a women's bureau. Here's why

Federal government faces heat for unpaid intern rules

Ottawa Citizen, February 10, 2016Print

URL: http://ottawacitizen.com/storyline/federal-government-faces-heat-for-unpaid-intern-rules

The federal Liberals are facing a growing backlash over proposed regulations that would allow federally regulated workplaces to hire unpaid interns, which intern advocates say flies in the face of the government’s campaign pledges to help young workers.

Time for party leaders to step up, show who’s going to be the best for public servants

‘My ancestors did not survive 300 years of slavery to feel like I had an overseer’: systemic change needed at Equal Voice after three racialized women fired, say women’s rights advocates

Congratulations, we played ourselves

Trudeau and the Liberals have lost their feminist credentials

Canada’s White Punditry Lets Us Down On The SNC-Lavalin Scandal

Probe finds federal departments neglected to pay interns

CBC, September 23, 2016Online

URL: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/interns-global-affairs-unpaid-treasury-board-washington-students-1.3774290

Liberal government investigation uncovers examples of interns who should have been paid

Proposed rules on unpaid interns a 'political problem' for Liberals, advocates say

CBC, February 10, 2016Online

URL: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/unpaid-interns-rules-backlash-1.3441701

Advocates say unpaid internships lead to precarious employment for young workers

Navigating rights and responsibilities under workers' compensation and human rights legislation in Ontario

Published by Ontario Bar Association Annual Human Rights Update 2016

May 30, 2016

A review of recent Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario cases involving injured workers shows that workplace parties are not always responsive to the different obligations that exist under workers’ compensation and human rights legislation in Ontario. It is possible that many disputes over these issues that have ended up before the Tribunal might have been avoided had there been clear policies and processes in place explaining these distinctive obligations and encouraging proactive compliance with both WSIA and Code requirements.

URL: https://www.academia.edu/26258667/Navigating_rights_and_responsibilities_under_workers_compensation_and_human_rights_legislation_in_Ontario

Canadian Intern Association Rights Guide

Published by Canadian Intern Association

November 16, 2016

The Guide provides a summary of employment, health and safety, and human rights for interns in each province and the federal sector in the “know your rights” section. The Guide also features “claim back your pay” information, recommendations for law reform, and best practices for employers and academic institutions.

URL: http://internassociation.ca/tempcia/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/CanadianInternRightsGuide.pdf

Biography

Amy Kishek is a Palestinian-Canadian podcast host, advocate and labour lawyer. She works in-house for one of Canada's largest public sector unions, representing members and the union in matters of labour and human rights law before labour boards and arbitrators across the country. She has appeared before parliamentary committees, and provides legal education seminars. Kishek is the co-host of the Ottawa-based Bad and Bitchy podcast, an intersectional feminist podcast offering topical weekly takes on politics, social issues and pop culture. She has also contributed to opinion pieces to both local and national publications. Amy was previously a political staffer, and has a master's degree in international political economy where she was a fellow at Massey College. Kishek has worked with a number of organizations in federal lobbying and advocacy, including the Canadian Intern Association on issues of unpaid internships. Her first hand experience with unpaid internships and student debt led her to take action to address systemic issues that plague young workers. Kishek embraces the label of social justice activist, has organized rallies and marches, and brings her feminism to her satirical writing at the Beaverton.

Additional Titles and Affiliations

Bad + Bitchy Podcast, Co-host

Imagine Canada

Board Member, Equal Voice

Expertise

  • Youth Employment
  • Young Workers
  • Workplace Law
  • Public Outreach
  • Policy Analysis
  • Policy Advocacy
  • Law Reform
  • Labour Law
  • Human Rights & Workplace Law
  • Human Rights
  • Government & Politics
  • Employment Law
  • Advocacy and Social Justice
  • Access to Justice

Education/Éducation

  • University of Toronto
    Political Economy of International Development
    Master's of Arts, 2012
  • University of Ottawa
    Common Law
    Juris Doctor, 2015
  • University of Ottawa
    Public Administration and Political Science
    Bachelor of Social Sciences, 2011