Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Update (September 28, 2022):
Earlier this week, AMAPCEO filed formal policy disputes with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) and Public Health Ontario (PHO) Employers, arguing that these Employers must honour the AMAPCEO collective agreements, which entitle members to statutory holidays and any other special holidays (i.e., Remembrance Day) proclaimed by the Governor General or Lieutenant Governor.
This news comes after AMAPCEO filed a similar policy dispute on behalf of OPS members the previous week.
Update (September 14, 2022):
AMAPCEO filed a formal policy dispute with the OPS Employer on September 8, arguing that the Employer must honour our collective agreement, which entitles our members to statutory holidays and any other special holidays (e.g., Remembrance Day) proclaimed by the Governor General or Lieutenant Governor.
As the Commission said in its report, this special day helps “ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.”
Recently, AMAPCEO members were informed that the Ontario Public Service (OPS) Employer has decided not to recognize the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation on September 30 as it did in 2021.
Last year, a federal statutory holiday was created and the OPS Employer followed suit, recognizing September 30, 2021 as a special day. In spite of the fact that this special day will be observed each year on the same day and it was established in direct response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action No. 80, this year the OPS Employer has made the decision to treat September 30th as a standard work day for OPS employees, while offering “educational resources and learning opportunities.”
Earlier in August, AMAPCEO and the five other OPS bargaining agents wrote to the Secretary of Cabinet to reinforce our expectation that the OPS employer would honour our respective collective agreements that include language entitling our members to statutory holidays and any other special holidays (i.e. Remembrance Day) proclaimed by the Governor General or Lieutenant Governor.
AMAPCEO is disappointed with OPS Employer’s decision and is currently working with other bargaining agents on next steps. As our letter contemplates, the filing of formal disputes may become unavoidable in our defence of our collective agreement and in our desire to honour the truth and reconciliation process. Unfortunately, with such a late decision on the Employer’s part, a dispute will not afford a remedy in a timely fashion for 2022.