Ontario’s 4 major teachers’ unions file court challenge against Ford government

The province’s four biggest teachers’ unions have launched a legal challenge against the Ford government’s cap on salary increases. Cynthia Mulligan with what this means for ongoing negotiations.

By News Staff The Canadian Press

Ontario’s four major teachers’ unions have filed a court challenge against the provincial government.

The challenge is focused on Bill 124, the Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act.

“Bill 124 violates the democratic rights of all workers in Ontario’s public sector,” Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario president Sam Hammond said

“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 while contract talks between the unions and the province continue.

The unions represent both elementary and high school teachers in public, Catholic and French boards.

“The Charter exists to protect the rights of Canadians, even when those rights are not convenient for governments,” Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens president Rémi Sabourin said in a statement.

“That is the backbone of our democracy.”

Last month, the four unions issued a joint statement condemning the passage of the Progressive Conservative government’s wage cap legislation.

The unions say the bill, which caps all public sector salary increases at one per cent per year for the next three years, violates their charter rights.

The government has said the wage cap bill respects the bargaining process, noting it still allows for employees to get raises for seniority, performance or increased qualifications.

“This legislation protects the vital, front-line public services that the people of Ontario depend on every day,” Treasury Board president Peter Bethlenfalvy said in a statement. “We are taking a reasonable, fair and time-limited approach to managing public sector compensation to ensure that we can continue to invest in the key programs that all Ontarians expect and deserve.”

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