Unions of public servants in Ontario are demonstrating against Ford's compulsory office return directives
In the heart of Ontario's capital, hundreds of public servants gathered outside Queen's Park on Thursday, voicing their discontent with the province's decision to mandate a full-time return to office. Smaller rallies were also held in Guelph, Kingston, Oshawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, and Sudbury.
The protest was led by AMAPCEO, a union representing over 14,000 public service employees. Dave Bulmer, the president of AMAPCEO, expressed concern about the potential lack of office space for all public servants when they return to work full time. According to the union, out of the 16,000 members in Bulmer's union, they believe there are seats for just over 13,000.
The decision to phase out remote and hybrid work, announced by the province in August, requires employees to work in-office five days a week by Jan. 5, 2026. This move has been met with resistance from various unions, including AMAPCEO, OPSEU, and PEGO.
For many public service workers, hybrid work has become the norm. A return to a five-day in-office standard could be costly for workers who need to commute more and others on the road. The province is currently reviewing all government office space to identify any space limitations.
The president of PEGO, Nihar Bhatt, hopes the government will reverse its decision on the return-to-office mandate. Bhatt's union, PEGO, worked flexibly during the pandemic but received rigidity in return from the government.
Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney defended the decision, stating that it reflects the current workforce landscape in the province. However, Liz Tuomi, a spokesperson for Mulroney, said Thursday the union's response was disappointing and "distracts from the work underway to return to a five-day in-office standard."
Some private-sector companies, such as Canada's four major banks, and municipalities like Brampton and Ottawa have also followed this move. Premier Doug Ford has said he believes in-person work is better for productivity and that downtown businesses are suffering from a loss of foot traffic.
However, the protesting public servants argue that the benefits of hybrid work, such as reduced commute times and increased productivity, should not be overlooked. A petition launched by AMAPCEO has garnered 13,000 signatures in support of a policy reversal.
As the province moves forward with its return-to-office mandate, the unions will continue to advocate for their members and the benefits of hybrid work. The future of work in Ontario's public sector remains a topic of ongoing debate and discussion.
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