Ontario court strikes down Bill 124, the wage-limiting law for public sector workers

An Ontario court has struck down a controversial bill that limited wages for public sector workers. Several unions and workers affected by Bill 124 have been fighting the legislation that came into effect in 2019.

An Ontario court has struck down a controversial bill that limited wages for public sector workers.

Several unions and workers affected by Bill 124 have been fighting the legislation that came into effect in 2019 and limits wage increases to one per cent a year for three years.

The government had said the bill was a time-limited approach to help eliminate the province’s deficit.

Justice Markus Koehnen said in his decision Tuesday that the law infringes on the applicants' rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining, according to the Canadian Press.

Last September, groups representing thousands of public sector employees went to court to fight the constitutionality of the bill.

The groups argued the bill violates a section of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that protects meaningful collective bargaining.

The province, however, argued the bill does not interfere with the groups' ability to bargain for job security, benefits and seniority.