Wednesday, September 14, 2022
A coalition of unions representing more than 270,000 public sector workers—including AMAPCEO members—is presenting its arguments to the Superior Court of Justice this week as part of its challenge to the government’s Bill 124.
The legislation limits public sector workers’ compensation increases to a maximum of one per cent a year for three years—including for unionized workers as their contracts expire.
“Taking away all public servants’ constitutionally-protected rights and capping our wage increases is no way for an employer to treat its most valuable resources—its employees,” said AMAPCEO President Dave Bulmer.
“And It’s certainly no way to treat AMAPCEO members, who rose to the occasion when the pandemic started, using our creativity, experience, and dedication to respond to the emergency in ingenious new ways.”
Enacted in 2019, Bill 124 has had devastating effects on the public service, most visibly in the healthcare sector, where it has worsened staffing pressures after decades of cuts and underfunding.
AMAPCEO is a founding member of the coalition, which unites more than 40 unions in the fight against Bill 124.
“We are confident Bill 124 will eventually be struck down, and our rights restored,” Bulmer said.
Similar legislation in Ontario was found to be unconstitutional. Hundreds of millions of dollars were awarded to workers affected by Bill 115, the Putting Students First Act, which passed in 2012. Following a four-year legal challenge, the court found the act infringed on teachers and education workers’ rights to meaningful collective bargaining.