Dear Colleagues and Friends,

The Doug Ford government is invoking the notwithstanding clause in order bypass basic rights enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms so that they can impose a four-year collective agreement on education workers in Ontario and quash their right to strike. The Renison Association of Academic Staff (RAAS) deplores this move for its implications for the affected public education workers, for public education in general, and for collective bargaining and democratic rights in this province.

The use of the notwithstanding clause to override workers’ rights to free and fair collective bargaining and to job action is a chilling precedent with ominous implications for all workers in Ontario, but especially those in the public and educational sectors, including RAAS members.

The proposed legislation also removes or limits the rights and protections of workers under the Ontario Human Rights Code, and limits the jurisdiction of the Ontario Labour Relations Board, arbitrators and other tribunals.

RAAS joins countless other unions, community groups, and individual Ontarians in condemning the Ford government’s unprecedented action that have spoken in opposition to the proposed legislation. RAAS stands in solidarity with the 55,000 CUPE education workers across Ontario in their fight for better working conditions, for quality public education that meets the needs of students, including those with special needs, and for economic justice. Their struggle is our struggle.

Robert Case
President, Renison Association of Academic Staff