labor leaders Ontario Celebrating after the court ruled Ford Gov.’s controversial wage cap law – Bill 124 – unconstitutional.
The decision could be subject to an immediate appeal from the province, which said it “intends to appeal” the decision to the Superior Court of Ontario.
However, even as the future of the killed law remains unclear, many labor leaders are celebrating victory in a battle that has been waged since Bill 124 was first introduced in 2019 .
“It’s really a historic victory for us,” Bernie Robinson, interim president of the Ontario Nurses Association, told Global News.
“Our rights have now been trampled upon for years with this wage blockade. We will be celebrating this victory across Ontario.”
She said the nurses were “ecstatic” at the ruling.
Ontario seeks to appeal court ruling striking down Bill 124
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The legal challenge against Bill 124 was brought by Ontario unions which challenged the constitutionality of the law in court. The province said the law does not violate constitutional rights.
A decision by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, released Tuesday, found that the law violates the rights to collective bargaining and freedom of association.
The ruling states, “I declare the Act … to be void and of no effect.”
Karen Littlewood, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Association (OSSTF), said her members were “ecstatic” about the decision.
“What it means is that public sector employees have spoken out, they have fought against something unconstitutional – and they have won,” she told Global News.
Health care advocates have argued since 2019 — with increasing urgency during the COVID-19 pandemic — that Bill 124 and its pay restraint rules were undermining the province’s health care crisis.
Nurses, in particular, urged the province to repeal the law. He said that as burnout began, many people left the profession and staff shortages began.
“Today brought light at the end of the tunnel,” said Doris Grinspun, president of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario.
“Nurses and other health professionals feel that someone is listening to them – and it’s the court.”
Ontario’s opposition parties have called on the province not to proceed with their plans to appeal.
Ontario Liberal Leader John Fraser said, “Don’t keep dragging this to court – you shouldn’t be fighting it, it’s wrong.”
His words were echoed in a statement by Peter Tabans, leader of the Ontario NDP.
“My message to Ford is simple: Don’t appeal this decision,” Tabuns said.
“Bill 124 has caused unspeakable damage to our valuable public services. Mr. Ford’s wage-cap legislation has created a staffing crisis in key sectors like education and health care, and Ontarians are paying the price.”
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