Ontario Drops Labor Board Lawsuit Seeking to Declare CUPE Strike Illegal

Toronto-Ontario’s Labor Relations Commission says the provincial government has withdrawn a petition to declare a strike by 55,000 education workers illegal.

Workers, represented by the Civil Service Union of Canada, quit their jobs last Friday after the government passed a law imposing contracts and banning strikes.

Prime Minister Doug Ford on Monday promised to repeal the law if workers stopped working, and CUPE said workers would return to work the next day.

The strike has closed hundreds of schools to in-person learning.

The Ontario Labor Relations Commission said government attorneys told the commission Wednesday it was withdrawing the state’s application, and that CUPE’s attorneys agreed to the withdrawal.

CUPE and the government returned to the negotiating table on Tuesday and negotiations continue.

The Labor Commission had heard the case during the weekend sessions of the marathon.

Government lawyers had asked the board to declare the CUPE strike “illegal” and the actions by union leaders “illegal,” but CUPE lawyers said the labor action was “legitimate.” political protest”.

To prevent constitutional challenges, government law that used the Despite Clause provides for up to $4,000 per day per employee and up to $500,000 per day for unions for violating the law. A dollar fine was imposed.

A Ford spokesperson said new legislation to repeal the Education Workers Bill will be introduced on Monday.

This report by the Canadian Press was first published on November 11, 2022.