On Friday, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) walked off the job after the government rammed through controversial legislation overriding Charter rights. This move by the government has caused quite a stir, with many people wondering what the implications will be. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the potential impacts of the CUPE strike.
One of the immediate impacts of the CUPE strike is that it has left many public services understaffed. This includes things like garbage collection, public transit, and child care. This has caused disruptions for many people who rely on these services. In addition, the strike is also having an impact on businesses. For example, businesses that rely on deliveries from CUPE members are being affected by delayed or cancelled deliveries.
The CUPE strike is also having political implications. The government’s decision to override Charter rights is seen by many as undemocratic. This has led to criticism from Opposition parties and even some members of the governing party. There is also concern that this could set a precedent for future governments to override Charter rights whenever they please.
Doug Ford’s Conservative government in Ontario has passed a bill that overrides workers’ Charter rights, causing the Canadian Union of Public Employees to walk off the job Friday.
The legislation, Bill 31, was passed in a rushed session Thursday night despite protests from the opposition and labour unions. It forces workers back on the job even if their contracts have not been settled and bans strikes or lockouts for the duration of the contract.
It is unconstitutional and will be challenged in court, say, labour leaders.
“This is an attack on the working class,” said Jerry Dias, national president of Unifor. “This is an attack on democracy.”
Teachers across the province have also vowed to fight the bill, saying it undermines their bargaining power.
“This is a declaration of war against public sector workers,” said Sam Hammond, president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario. “We will fight this with everything we have.”
And here’s the reaction of the premiere Doug Ford :
I spoke with Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau and made clear that shutting down classrooms would have an unacceptable impact on students. I reiterated that Ontario is determined, if necessary, to pass legislation to keep classrooms open and ensure stability for parents and students.
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) November 3, 2022
The Conservatives argue that the bill is necessary to prevent labour unrest and protect taxpayers.
“We cannot have a strike every time there’s an impasse in negotiations,” said Ford. “That’s not fair to the people of Ontario.”
NEW – Laura Walton and fellow CUPE members get kicked out of the public galleries in the legislature as the government passes bill 28, which legislates a contract on the union. It’s the second bill in Ontario history to use the notwithstanding clause to override charter rights. pic.twitter.com/UidJtTtkNh
— Richard Southern (@RichardCityNews) November 3, 2022
The legislation will now go to the Ontario Superior Court for a constitutional review. It is expected to be challenged because it violates workers’ right to freedom of association.
The CUPE strike is having a significant impact on both individuals and businesses in Canada. It remains to be seen how long the strike will last and what other impacts it will have. However, one thing is clear: this is a major story that everyone will be following closely in the days and weeks to come.
