Wage ceiling law does not violate charter, says Ontario Bill 124 case. Globalnews.ca – Henry Club

Toronto – says province of Ontario The wage-limit law on public sector workers does not violate constitutional rights.

Challenging the constitutionality of a group representing thousands of public sector employees bill 124A law passed in 2019 that limits pay increases to one percent per year for Ontario public service employees as well as broader public sector employees.

The matter began last week and has been heard by unions representing government employees, teachers, nurses and university teachers.

They argue that the law has taken away meaningful collective bargaining, thereby violating Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The bill’s provisions were in effect for three years as new contracts were negotiated, and the Tories said it was a time-limited approach to help eliminate losses.

The province argues that the charter protects only the bargaining process and not the outcome.

“That’s what the law does, it prevents an outcome,” said public prosecutor Zachary Green.

“Within that real constraint on the salary you can see at the end of the bargain, applicants remain free to engage in a process of meaningful bargaining.”