Bill 124 (Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act - 2019), created by the Doug Ford Conservative government, has imposed limits on the gains workers in the public sector can make in bargaining.
“This Bill is a direct attack on workers collective bargaining rights, including for our members in the academic sector,” states Craig Reynolds, Regional Executive Vice-President for PSAC Ontario. “Through the Ontario Federation of Labour, our union has filed a constitutional challenge against this Bill, and we will look to overturn this piece of regressive legislation.”
Despite these challenges, our Postdoctoral Fellows bargaining team at Western University in London managed to achieve incredible gains in this round of bargaining. This included raising the minimum salary of our members and healthy annual wage increases.
"In the face of the Conservative Government's Bill 124, this bargaining unit has made essential gains for our members that provides a stronger foundation for our Collective Agreement at Western University,” says Wes Robinson, Local President. “The inception of a health plan now detailed in our Collective Agreement is invaluable support necessary to protect our members as we continue our academic labour through an evolving pandemic that compounds extra stress and health concerns experienced in the academic sector."
Members were able to achieve a new Extended Health and Dental Benefit Plan and Professional Allowance benefits. These will be delivered at no cost to the members for single premium coverage, with the option to receive family coverage for a nominal fee.
There are also new maternity and parental leave provisions, including a combined maximum of 78 weeks job protection and increases to top-up provisions. Moreover, sick leave has been improved; with new domestic and sexual violence leave in addition to new critical care leave vital during this pandemic.
There are many other amazing provisions in this new collective agreement, which will expire on December 31, 2022.
Congratulations to the entire bargaining team! John Eustace, Negotiator, Darren Pacione, Research Officer, and the Postdoc bargaining team members; Anil Kumar Jhawar, Dicho Zomaya, Wes Robinson, Ari Vangeest and Bode Oye.