The Ford Conservatives are using legislation to impede workers’ right to free and fair collective bargaining.

The use of the Notwithstanding Clause to pass Back-to-Work legislation, is an attack on all workers in Ontario. If he gets away with it, all other workers will face the same threat: contracts imposed by law instead of free collective bargaining.

Show your solidarity for striking CUPE Ontario Education Workers by engaging in the actions below!

Picket Line Finder – Education workers are the backbone of Ontario’s public education system and we’re fighting for a good deal to ensure high-quality education and services for kids.  Whether you’re an education worker or an ally, come out to a picket line to send the Ford Conservatives a message and to secure a real deal. Follow this link  to support a Picket line near you!     Picket Line Finder…

Wear your purple shirts on Saturday, November 5, 2022 to show your solidarity with striking education workers!

Tag us in your content to show the Ford Conservatives that support is growing and far reaching!
Facebook: @CUPE Ontario
Instagram: @CUPEOntario
Twitter: @CUPEOntario

Les conservateurs de Doug Ford se servent d’un projet de loi pour brimer le droit des travailleurs à la négociation collective libre et équitable.

L’utilisation de la disposition de dérogation afin de faire adopter un projet de loi forçant le retour au travail est une attaque contre tous les travailleurs de l’Ontario. S’il y parvient, tous les autres travailleurs subiront la même menace : des conventions collectives imposées par voie législative plutôt que la libre négociation collective.
Manifestez votre solidarité à l’égard des travailleurs de l’éducation membres du SCFP-Ontario en grève en prenant part aux actions ci-dessous!  https://cupe.on.ca/dontbeabully/

Les travailleurs de l’éducation sont le pilier du système d’éducation publique de l’Ontario et nous luttons pour une bonne entente afin d’assurer une éducation de qualité supérieure et des services pour les enfants.

Que vous soyez un travailleur de l’éducation ou un allié, venez sur la ligne de piquetage pour envoyer un message aux conservateurs de Doug Ford et pour obtenir une réelle entente.

Portez vos chandails mauves le samedi 5 novembre 2022 afin de manifester votre solidarité à l’égard des travailleurs de l’éducation en grève

Mentionnez-nous dans votre contenu afin de montrer aux conservateurs de Doug Ford que les appuis augmentent et qu’ils sont d’une grande portée!

Facebook : @CUPE Ontario
Instagram : @CUPEOntario
Twitter : @CUPEOntario

Sisters, Brothers, and Friends,

This memo outlines the right of workers to time to vote during the upcoming municipal elections. You are encouraged to share this memo with leadership of locals in your assignment as it speaks to the rights of their members to ensure that they are able to exercise their right to vote.

The Municipal Elections Act provides, in section 50, that employees who are eligible to vote in municipal election are entitled to three consecutive hours free from work on voting day (October 24 this year) and are entitled to be absent from work for enough time, up to three hours, as is required for them to exercise that right.

This right isn’t unlimited, because the absence from work must be timed so as to suit the employer’s convenience to the greatest extent possible. This means that where an employee’s working hours already provide them with three hours in a row free from work while the polls are open, the employee is not entitled to additional time away from work.

For example, in Toronto the polls will be open from 10am to 8pm on October 24. If an employee is scheduled to work from 10pm to 6pm, that employee would be entitled to leave work an hour early, that is at 5pm to ensure that they have three consecutive hours free of work to be able to vote. However, if an employee is scheduled to work from 9am to 5pm, that employee will already have three consecutive hours free (from 5pm to 8pm) and thus would not be entitled to leave work early.

This right doesn’t necessarily mean leaving work early. If an employee works from 12pm to 8pm on voting day, the least time away from work would be required by arriving at work one hour late rather than leaving work three hours early.

Importantly, if an employee’s schedule is such that they need to take time off from work to be able to vote, employees are entitled to be paid for that time off and should not suffer any “other penalty” as a result of the absence.

As a best practice, if an employee knows their schedule for voting day, and knows that they will need either to arrive late or to leave early, to ensure that their employer is aware that this time will be needed and taken. This helps to avoid conflict on the day itself and provides an opportunity to resolve any dispute in advance.

Devon Paul, Legal & Legislative Representative