Wage cap legislation is an attack on working people and free collective bargaining

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June 10, 2019

Public sector wage cap press conference: UFCW 175 member Judy Tsao speaks at an OFL Press Conference.On June 5, the government introduced the Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act, 2019 to the legislature, and the Bill passed first reading.

The legislation limits wage increases to one per cent per year for public sector workers; this includes workers in long-term care homes, teachers, and many more workers in the broader public sector.

On June 6, front-line workers took part in an Ontario Federation of Labour’s press conference in response to the government’s public sector wage cap legislation. One of the speakers was UFCW Local 175 Member and Steward Judy Tsao, who works at Central Toronto Community Health Services.

Judy spoke about a number of issues including how this government’s cuts continue to affect workers. “The Ontario Government’s legislation to freeze wages for public sector workers is another example of Doug Ford’s government’s aggressive attack on and the attempt at decimating the public service sector. Times are already difficult in Ontario’s job market because Doug Ford’s government puts little value on the basic workers’ rights like a fair minimum wage and paid sick days. The Ford government has undone gains for workers made under previous governments.”

Here’s a statement from UFCW Locals 175 & 633:

Wage cap legislation is an attack on working people and free collective bargaining

The United Food & Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Locals 175 & 633 condemns the legislation introduced by the Ford government to impose compensation caps on workers in the public sector.

“This is an attack on working people and their right to free collective bargaining,” said Shawn Haggerty, President of UFCW Local 175. “In this province, these workers have the democratic right to negotiate with their employers. This legislation could have a disastrous effect on current bargaining and will likely end up costing taxpayers more money in legal challenges.”

On June 5, the government introduced the Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act, 2019 to the legislature, and the Bill passed first reading. The legislation limits wage increases to one per cent per year for public sector workers, including those in long-term care homes, teachers, and many more workers in the broader public sector.

“First, Ford cancelled the $15 minimum wage, which has left many workers far behind the living wage for most municipalities, and now he’s capping public sector increases at a rate that’s below inflation,” said Haggerty. “This has nothing to do with solving the deficit: this is a continuation of Ford’s attack on working people. He is punishing and blaming workers instead of finding real revenue solutions that will maintain and improve the quality of our public services.”

“Our Union stands in solidarity with the public sector Unions and employees in this province and we call on the government to stop its partisan decision making. The work that public sector employees do is vital and we will continue to represent all of our members and make their voices heard; be it at the bargaining table or at Queen’s Park,” added Haggerty.

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June 7 marked one year since Ford took office.

Across the province, the Ontario Federation of Labour and thousands of supporters gathered for Days of Action to rally against all of the cuts Ford has made to our public services like health care and education, and the many worker protections he rolled back or eliminated. #PowerOfMany

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Read President Haggerty and Secretary-Treasurer Tosato’s latest messages in Checkout magazine.

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