Bill 28: Use of Notwithstanding Clause Against Education Workers
The government invoked the notwithstanding clause to impose a contract on education workers and ban strikes, then reversed course after two weeks following widespread backlash.
👷 A reversed Labour policy from October 2022 · Implemented · Well sourced · Also seen in AB
Updated · Created
"Keeping Kids in School"
The Keeping Students in Class Act prevents education worker strikes to protect children's learning and parents' ability to work.
"We need to keep kids in the classroom where they belong."
— Stephen Lecce, Education Minister, November 2022
"Pre-emptive Notwithstanding Against Lowest-Paid Workers"
Bill 28 pre-emptively invoked the Notwithstanding Clause to impose a contract on 55,000 education workers (custodians, EAs, school secretaries) earning as little as $39,000/year — before any strike even occurred. The unprecedented use of Section 33 against workers drew national condemnation and was repealed within days.
- First use of Notwithstanding Clause to override collective bargaining rights in Canadian historysource
- Workers earning as little as $39,000/year were offered 1.25-2.5% raises during 6-7% inflationsource
- Bill repealed 6 days later after mass public opposition and strike action threatsource
- Private sector unions joined the strike threat — potential general strikesource
This section represents editorial interpretation of documented evidence.
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