ETFO Takes Ontario Government to Court
ETFO filed a court challenge on Thursday, October 11th against the Ontario government's Bill 115 on grounds that the law, which strips the education sector of its right to bargain collectively, violates rights set out in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Similar challenges are also being filed by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF), Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario, and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). Lawyers for the groups hope to have the challenges heard together by the court.
At a press conference outside the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, ETFO President Sam Hammond pointed out that the Charter guarantees the right of Canadians to organize, engage in collective bargaining, and withdraw services to advance workplace goals.
| Video: President Hammond at the Oct. 11 press conference |
"We want all Ontarians to understand that the Charter exists to protect the rights of individuals, even when governments seek to override them. That is the strength and backbone of democracy in Canada," said President Hammond.
"Ontarians, and indeed all Canadians, need to be assured that no government will be permitted to attempt to drastically undermine employee democratic rights without facing the strongest possible challenge," continued President Hammond. "This is a right we will fight for all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada."
To watch video clips of the press conference, click here.
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Prominent Canadians Call for Repeal of Bill 115
On October 11, 2012, one month after the enactment of Bill 115, an Open Letter to the People of Ontario was published in newspapers across the province. Sponsored by ETFO, CUPE Ontario, OPSEU and OSSTF, Open Letter is signed by 65 prominent labour and community leaders, authors and academics, and calls for the repeal of this draconian legislation. To download a copy of Open Letter, click here.
To download the petition to repeal Bill 115, click here.
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Copyright 2012 - The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario ETFO holds the copyright to all information in this publication, except where specifically noted. All rights reserved.
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