NBFL stands in solidarity with CUPE education workers in Ontario: Ontario government’s legislation is an attack on all workers

The New Brunswick Federation of Labour (NBFL) stands in solidarity with the 55,000 CUPE Ontario School Boards Council of Unions (OSBCU) members, who are fighting back against the draconian legislation tabled by the Doug Ford Conservatives. If passed, this legislation would violate workers’ rights protected by the Canadian Constitution. It would also impose an unfair contract on these workers.

“The use of the notwithstanding clause to override collective bargaining rights is unprecedented, and an attack on the rights of workers, not just in Ontario, but across Canada,” said NBFL President Daniel Legere. “The right to join a union, participate in collective bargaining and to strike are essential labour rights in Canada and need to be protected. The NBFL is watching what is happening in Ontario very closely. Other anti-worker governments, like the Blaine Higgs’s Conservatives, could launch a similar attack on public sector workers.”

The Supreme Court of Canada affirmed the right to strike in 2015. The 55,000 education workers are custodians, maintenance and library workers, secretaries, early childhood educators, educational assistants, and IT professionals working in publicly-funded schools across Ontario. They are the lowest-paid education workers, earning, on average, only $39,000 a year which has left many on the brink of poverty.

“New Brunswick’s labour movement stands in solidarity Ontario school workers,” said Legere. “This legislation threatens to further roll back the constitutional rights of workers everywhere. The Ontario government needs to stop bullying workers, drop this legislation and return to the bargaining table with a fair deal for Ontario education workers.”

To show your support of Ontario education workers, visit https://cupe.on.ca/dontbeabully/.

-30-

For additional information, contact

Daniel Legere
NBFL President
(506) 857-2125
(506) 381-8969 (cell)