ADVISORY/PHOTO OP: Premier Wynne's office to face picket over Legal Aid lawyers' rights

TORONTO, July 20, 2016 /CNW/ - Legal Aid lawyers and the union of their choice, The Society of Energy Professionals, will picket Premier Kathleen Wynne's midtown Toronto constituency office on Thursday, July 21 from 4:30-6:00PM to demand collective bargaining rights for Legal Aid lawyers.

For more than three years, Legal Aid lawyers have demanded Wynne and Legal Aid Ontario stop denying them their Charter-protected rights to collective bargaining and to choose the bargaining representatives of their choice. The Wynne government and Legal Aid Ontario are set to spend an estimated $1 million in legal fees to block Legal Aid lawyers from securing their democratic rights.

Crown attorneys and lawyers employed in the Ministry of the Attorney General have already been granted collective bargaining rights. But unlike those majority-male groups, two-thirds of Legal Aid lawyers are women and a high percentage of Legal Aid lawyers identify as people of colour.

Legal Aid lawyers represent the poorest and most vulnerable Ontario residents on family, criminal and immigration matters.

This is the third week in a row that the campaign for Legal Aid lawyers' rights has targeted Wynne's Liberals. On July 6, Legal Aid lawyers targeted a $1,400-a-plate fundraiser with Finance Minister Charles Sousa, forcing him to use the back entrance of the restaurant to avoid the protest. On July 13, the campaign targeted the Liberals' Red Tent $750-a-person cocktail fundraiser at Manulife Centre.

When: Thursday July 21, 2016, 4:30-6:00PM
Who: Legal Aid lawyers and The Society of Energy Professionals
What: Picket of Premier Kathleen Wynne's constituency office
Where: 795 Eglinton Ave. E., between Laird Dr. and Sutherland Dr., Toronto

SOURCE The Society of Energy Professionals

Adam Chaleff-Freudenthaler, [phone], [email protected]