Supreme Court Will Not Hear Appeal of Manitoba’s Public-Sector Wage Freeze

Supreme Court Will Not Hear Appeal of Manitoba’s Public-Sector Wage Freeze
The Supreme Court of Canada is pictured under fall coloured leaves in Ottawa, on Oct. 20, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick)
The Canadian Press
10/27/2022
Updated:
10/27/2022
0:00
The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear an appeal from unions that consider the Manitoba government’s public-sector wage freeze a violation of collective bargaining rights.

Just over a year ago, the provincial Court of Appeal ruled the government was within its rights to legislate the wage freeze.

It said the original judge from what was then the Court of Queen’s Bench erred in deciding the legislation violated bargaining rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Moreover, the appeal court said, the government removed only wages from the bargaining table, not any other issue.

The decision prompted public-sector labour groups to appeal to the Supreme Court.

As usual, the top court gave no reasons for refusing today to hear the case.