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In a groundbreaking decision, Ontario’s Court of Appeal has backed the right of Toronto Transit Commission workers to strike. The ruling, hot on the heels of the TTC workers’ planned strike, upholds their constitutional right to strike.
Back in 2011, the Ontario government, then under the Liberals, introduced a law that prohibited unionized TTC workers from striking due to frequent strikes and immediate back-to-work legislation. The law was challenged in court and was recently ruled unconstitutional by a Superior Court judge, a decision that was upheld by the Appeal Court.
The TTC workers’ union, representing around 12,000 employees, quickly set a strike date for June 7 after the favorable court ruling. The Appeal Court emphasized that the ban on TTC strikes did not have substantial grounds for being necessary to protect public interests, highlighting the importance of workers’ collective bargaining rights.
The landmark decision has been hailed as a victory for working people by the union. Union president Marvin Alfred expressed commitment to negotiating a fair collective agreement for the members. Stay updated on this and other breaking news by visiting our website and subscribing to our daily newsletter, Posted.