Ontario government engineers start job action in contract dispute

More than 600 professional engineers and land surveyors who work for the Ontario government have started a work-to-rule campaign and warn that their job action could affect the province’s ability to make progress on key infrastructure projects.

Their bargaining association says members’ earning have fallen so far behind that they sometimes earn half of what people in similar positions at municipalities make.

Nihar Bhatt, president of Professional Engineers Government of Ontario, says his members want to see a “significant” increase in pay, though he did not give specific percentages.

Bhatt says low wages are creating a recruitment and retention crisis that could lead to delays on government priorities such as Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass.

His association says subsequent escalation of their job action could include strategic withdrawals of labour by certain groups of employees that could affect the ability to advance and manage critical infrastructure.

A spokesperson for Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney says the government’s latest offer to the engineers recognizes their specialized role, but did not give details.