Ford government ‘has lost our support,’ OPSEU president says

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This article was published 20/04/2022 (1575 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ontario workers are looking for a “radical shift” in the province’s priorities in next week’s budget, says the new president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.

“Public sector workers have spoken and they have a message — the Ford government has lost our support … (and) let us down for the last time,” said JP Hornick, speaking at Queen’s Park on Wednesday.

Hornick, who accused the provincial government of an “anti-worker agenda,” said her members are looking for change in the budget — the last one before the election campaign begins and voters head to the polls June 2.

“We can’t be distracted by license sticker refunds when workers need real support and meaningful change,” Hornick said, referring to the government’s move to rebate licence sticker renewal fees.

Hornick’s message appeared to contrast the approach taken by her predecessor, Warren “Smokey” Thomas, who appeared at Premier Doug Ford’s side last fall when the government announced a bump in the minimum wage.

A spokesperson for Labour Minister Monte McNaughton — who has announced a host of new initiatives in the last several months — said the government has a “strong working relationship” with unions.

“In the fall, Premier Ford and Minister McNaughton were proud to stand with Smokey and OPSEU when our government announced an increase to the minimum wage, to support 750,000 workers across this province,” said Harry Godfrey, McNaughton’s senior manager of communications and media relations.

“We have a strong working relationship with our union partners and their hardworking members. Our government will continue to lead the country in changes to protect all workers, like we are in becoming the first jurisdiction in North America to provide health-care and dental benefits to millions of people with part-time and precarious jobs.”

Hornick, however, said the union is “mobilizing our members to elect a government that will support workers.”

OPSEU represents 180,000 public sector workers in the province.

The government’s Bill 124 capped their yearly wage increases at one per cent, and the union is urging the government to repeal it and other bills it says threaten collective bargaining.

Following its election in 2018, the PC government killed planned increases to the minimum wage, but has since boosted it to $15 an hour and has announced a planned increase to $15.50 in October. Future increases would be tied to inflation.

The NDP and Liberals have also pledged minimum wage hikes.

McNaughton has set legislation that would give workers the right to disconnect after the working day, license temporary help agencies and establish “core rights” for gig workers.

He also recently struck a panel to create a portable dental and health benefits system for gig workers, which is to report back this summer.

Kristin Rushowy is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @krushowy