With the passing of Ontario Bill 28 and its imposed collective agreement, CUPE Local 1022 education workers and allies took to picketing and protesting outside of Todd Smith’s office, local MPP who voted in favour of the bill, on Friday.
CUPE Local 1022 President Jo-Anne White spoke to CJPE about the importance of their protest at the time:
MPP Smith was not present, and did not respond to requests for an interview.
Over the past weekend, there were more protests and solidarity demonstrations at home and afar. As well, an Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) hearing was convened to decide whether CUPE’s actions amounted to an illegal strike, making it liable for fines under Bill 28.
In response to these events, David J. Doorey, Associate Professor of Labor and Employment Law at York University, tweeted “Ontario has withdrawn from [an] 80 year long compromise that is the foundation of our system. It has imposed an even greater restriction on the right to strike ( complete ban) while also refusing to bargain in good faith.”
The compromise that Dr. Doorey is referring to is the banning of strikes during collective agreements in exchange for employers bargaining in good faith and having the right to strike during bargaining.
Following this, there were reports from trade union news website rankandfile.ca that the Ontario Federation of Labour was considering a mass protest on Saturday, Nov. 12, followed by a general strike on Monday, Nov. 14.
However, with the Ford Government's written promise to rescind Bill 28, and restore their Charter rights, CUPE has agreed to call off the strike and return to collective bargaining (though they are still as of now in a legal strike position).
