Ontario Government Engineers Begin Job Action in Contract Dispute
The Ontario government is facing a new challenge as engineers employed by the province have started job action in response to a contract dispute. This move comes after months of negotiations between the government and the Professional Engineers Government of Ontario (PEGO) union.
According to PEGO, the main issue at hand is the government’s proposed changes to the engineers’ pension plan. The union argues that these changes would result in significant financial losses for its members and could potentially discourage future engineers from working for the government.
In response, the government has stated that the proposed changes are necessary in order to address the province’s budget deficit and ensure the sustainability of the pension plan. They have also emphasized that the changes would not affect current retirees or those close to retirement.
The job action, which began on Monday, includes engineers refusing to work overtime or perform any non-essential duties. This could potentially impact various government projects and services, including infrastructure development and maintenance.
PEGO has stated that they are open to further negotiations with the government and are willing to find a solution that is fair for both parties. However, they have also warned that if a resolution is not reached, they may escalate their job action in the future.
In the meantime, the government has assured the public that they are working to minimize the impact of the job action and ensure that essential services are not disrupted. They have also urged PEGO to return to the bargaining table in order to reach a mutually beneficial agreement.
This contract dispute between the Ontario government and its engineers is just the latest in a series of labour disputes that have arisen in the province in recent months. It remains to be seen how this situation will be resolved and what impact it will have on the government’s operations and services.
