Teachers’ Unions Challenging Ford Government Law

Bill Restricts Public Sector Raises to 1% Annual, Called "Unconstitutional" By Unions

Four of Ontario’s teachers’ unions have issued notice they are challenging a law that restricts how much public sector wages can be raised per year.

Bill 124, or the Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act of 2019 was given royal assent in November and, among other measures, restricts public sector wage increases to 1% annually for three years. ‘The Government believes that the public interest requires the adoption, on an exceptional and temporary basis, of the measures set out in this Act.” reads Bill 124.

The Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO), the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA), and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF/FEESO), claim Bill 124 violates the teachers’ and education workers’ constitutional rights to engage in unrestricted collective bargaining activity, which is guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

“Bill 124 violates the democratic rights of all workers in Ontario’s public sector,” says ETFO President Sam Hammond. “No employer should be permitted to undermine employees’ fundamental rights without facing the strongest possible challenge. The Ford government should recognize these rights and repeal Bill 124 immediately.”

This comes following months of tense and unproductive negotiations between provincial teachers’ unions and the Ministry of Education, which includes administrative job action and one-day strikes.

0 Shares
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin