TORONTO, ON – In November 2022, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and other unions won a major victory at the Ontario Court of Justice when Justice Markus Koehnen ruled that Bill 124, which capped wage increases for public sector employees at one per cent annually for three years, infringed upon union members’ right to freedom of association under the Charter. Instead of accepting the court’s decision, the Ford government pressed forward with an appeal that is being heard this week.
“Instead of ending its attack on workers and moving to remedy, the Ford government is doubling down on its disregard for workers’ rights and creating roadblocks to negotiated agreements,” says ETFO President Karen Brown. “Their appeal—in the midst of negotiations with ETFO and other education unions—undermines collective bargaining and is a waste of taxpayer money. Not another public dollar should be spent on their disappointing attempt to violate workers’ rights.”