10 signatures reached
To: Michael Helfinger and Ontario MPPs
Protect worker's rights to safety and reasonable working hours.
The changes proposed in schedule 9 of Bill 66 to the Labour Relations Act, 1995, will effectively destroy the efficacy of the collective bargaining agreements Ontario unions put in place to protect workers rights, wages and benefits.
This is unacceptable.
Schedule 9 also simultaneously increases the amount of work a Contractor can demand from an employee while limiting and in some cases eliminating the employees right to be payed overtime over a 4 week average.
This is unacceptable.
Why is this important?
Schedule 9 of Bill 66 outlines an unacceptable erosion of hard earned union rights earned through Ontario's history. The proposed changes to the Labour Relations Act, 1995, will open the bidding of Public Infrastructure work to contractors who are not committed to the use of unionized workers. This will compromise workplace safety, and greatly diminish the efficacy of collective bargaining agreements.
Schedule 9 also will increase workload and time spent on the job site on a daily basis:
"Part VII of the Act is amended to remove the Director’s approval for employers to make agreements that allow their employees to exceed 48 hours of work in a work week.The employee’s hours may be averaged in accordance with the terms of an averaging agreement between the employee and the employer over a period that does not exceed four weeks."
"Part VIII of the Act is amended to remove the Director’s approval for employers to make agreements that allow them to average their employee’s hours of work for the purpose of determining the employee’s entitlement to overtime pay. The employee’s hours may be averaged in accordance with the terms of an averaging agreement between the employee and the employer over a period that does not exceed four weeks."
Under this outline, a worker could potentially work 3 weeks at 40 hours, and be required to work 72 hours on the 4th week without overtime in order to remain employed. (this is a worst case scenario, but it's still possible)
This section of the bill would greatly compromise hard earned workers rights gained through historical labour movements in Canada. It is an attack on history and on progress. Workers will have less time to spend with their families and often be payed far less overtime for this sacrifice. These changes only pander to the benefit of contractors who will cut corners on workplace safety. This will hurt workers who make up the heart of the industry.