Toronto, Dec. 12 2019 – The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations stands in solidarity with our colleagues in the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association, and the Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens as they launch a legal challenge of the Ford government’s new legislation capping public sector wage increases. The Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act fundamentally undermines the constitutionally protected right to free and fair collective bargaining, threatens pay equity and benefits for marginalized workers, and will erode labour relations in the public sector.
University faculty and academic librarians firmly believe in the right to free and fair collective bargaining. It is through this process that equity is fostered, ensuring that good jobs and fair pay are provided to traditionally under-compensated groups, including women-identified, racialized, and contract faculty. Instead of attacking hard-working Ontarians, the government should be investing in the province’s public services and education system to ensure smaller class sizes for students where positive relationships can be fostered and learning can thrive.
It is unfortunate that this court challenge is necessary, but the Ford government has consistently rejected opportunities to lead constructive conversations about the future of education in Ontario.
As this legal challenge proceeds, OCUFA will continue to support our colleagues across the education and broader public sector to hold the Ford government to account, and defend the rights of all workers to fair pay, safe working conditions, and job security. OCUFA is also studying its legal options as they relate to the Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act and will continue to work to protect our members’ collective bargaining rights.
For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Michael Conlon, Executive Director at 416-306-6030 or mconlon@ocufa.on.ca
I believe the most serious threat to Academe at UWaterloo and across Canada is the massive hires of staff at the cost of faculty. Those faculty which we do hire are in limited term positions, with such heavy teaching loads that they have no time for research. They have few if any benefits. Every few months we discover the arrival in the Faculty of Arts of yet more secretaries to the Assistants to the Associate deans. Count the numbers of the staff in the Dean’s office!