Hundreds of community, social services union members rally in Hamilton

Hundreds of unionized public sector employees took to the streets of downtown Hamilton Thursday afternoon, to launch the “Worth Fighting For” campaign calling on the Ontario government for retroactive wage increases.

Protestors snarled traffic while demanding the Ford government payback lost wages, from the now overturned Bill-124 wage freeze.

Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and Canadian Union of Public Employee (CUPE) members gathered at noon at Hamilton City Hall before marching to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services on King St West.

The campaign brings together workers in Ontario’s Broader Public Service (BPS), which includes community-based social services, health services and community services.

The Ford government passed Bill 124 in 2019, legislation aimed at capping public sector employees’ wages at 1 per cent per year.

In 2022, it was deemed unconstitutional by the Ontario Supreme Court, then in 2024 it was repealed.

Workers are now saying they want their money back and are fighting for it.

“This piece of legislation, found unconstitutional, robbed workers — literally stole money out of peoples pockets,” said Fred Hahn, the President of CUPE Ontario. “Healthcare workers, people who work in schools, people who work in the LCBO, our members in both of our unions, have already received remedy but these workers have not.”

The unions say BPS workers provide “critical services that communities rely on, working as social workers, child therapists, addictions counsellors, shelter workers, legal aid staff and countless other frontline social services roles.”

They add that the workers are “some of the lowest paid workers in the public service.”

The Worth Fighting For campaign also calls for long-term funding increases for community and social services.

“Talking to folks who can’t afford to pay rent and groceries in the same week, I know members of my own local are having to attend the same services we take clients to to support them — things like food banks,” said Melanie Barnett, a children’s service worker. “They’re having to attend, to support themselves.”

According to multiple reports in 2024, the Ontario government would have to repay workers over $6 billion for the illegal wage restraint.

CHCH News reached out to the province to inquire about the cost, whether it had increased, and how many payment remedies were owed, but have yet to hear back.

OPSEU and CUPE says it has 70 locals currently negotiating new collective agreements, with coordinated demands, warning that further escalation is expected this fall.

“You’re gonna see these folks taking strike votes, and you’re going to see these folks doing it together,” said JP Hornick, the President of OPSEU/SEFPO. “This is actually making sure we stand together. These are people that want to be fighting for the communities we live in.”

“We live here, we work here, and we’re proud of the services we provide, and we’re asking for the investment to make sure we can continue to do so.”

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