Employment lawyer Lior Samfiru with CTV News talks CUPE worker negotiations

Interview Summary

After removing the controversial Notwithstanding clause, the Ontario provincial government states it is committed to finding a resolution with CUPE. Negotiations continue between the union and province but many questions have arisen regarding the outcome. What options do employees have if bargaining once again sours? Will future strikes be possible?

Lior Samfiru, a Toronto employment lawyer and co-founding Partner at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP joins CTV News with Angie Seth to discuss the negotiations and the impact on employee rights.

Interview Notes

• Current negotiations between CUPE and the provincial government: Both sides appear to have shown the ability to force the other to their own will and have created a type of impasse. The government appears to be playing the long game as there are other unions that they will soon have to negotiate with. A compromise must be reached to avoid another unprecedented situation.
• The path forward for future negotiations: The government seemed to want to send the message of being conservative regarding wage increases when in talks with CUPE. This situation could lead to the use of an arbitrator in the future to decide and conduct negotiations.
• Binding arbitration as an option before Bill 28: Binding arbitration could have led to an offer that the provincial government did not want to consider initially. Now, however, it appears that the consequences of not reaching a deal are far worse than an original compromise.