Stand up to Doug Ford’s attacks on labour rights

PIPSC President Jennifer Carr issued the following statement in reaction to the Ford government’s unprecedented attack on labour rights in Ontario:

“What Doug Ford is doing is an unprecedented attack on labour rights in Ontario. Make no mistake – if he succeeds in invoking the notwithstanding clause to avoid bargaining with CUPE, he will do that every time he finds anyone’s constitutional rights to be inconvenient to his agenda.

The precedent Doug Ford is setting will be used by every right-wing provincial and federal government to ignore their obligations to bargain fairly. These actions will erode our hard-won rights – not just the right to collective bargaining, but every right enshrined in the Charter.

I want to be clear that this is part of a clear anti-union agenda from this government. Hundreds of PIPSC members continue to reel from Bill 124, which freezes public sector wage increases to 1% per year. This doesn’t just disrespect the hard work of frontline workers by limiting their wages in the face of skyrocketing inflation, it violates our Charter-protected rights to bargain collectively. This is why we’re part of a coalition that is challenging Bill 124 in court – and why we stand with CUPE workers today.

All Canadians must stand up to Doug Ford and stand in solidarity with our fellow workers at CUPE. I urge everyone to join local rallies in support of CUPE members, write to their representatives, and pressure Doug Ford to abandon his unconstitutional attack on workers and return to the negotiating table.

Generations of Canadians have fought bravely to protect our rights and freedoms from government overreach. It’s now our turn to stand up to Doug Ford and his attempt to trample on our Charter rights.”