Ontario engineers begin work-to-rule action, threatening to slow key highway projects
On Tuesday morning, the Professional Engineers Government of Ontario union, which represents engineers who work on oversight and management of government projects and regulations, began its first strike action in 35 years.
A group of senior engineers employed by the Ontario government has initiated a work-to-rule strike, cautioning that if an agreement is not reached, they could significantly slow down key infrastructure projects prioritized by Premier Doug Ford's government.
On Tuesday, the Professional Engineers Government of Ontario (PEGO) union, representing engineers who manage and oversee major government projects and regulations, began their first strike action in 35 years. These engineers handle critical tasks such as the building code, fire safety regulations, environmental standards, air quality rules, and overseeing significant highway construction projects, including bridges and new routes.
Nihar Bhatt, president of the union representing approximately 600 engineers, told Global News that his members perform "fairly senior-level, specialized work," which includes oversight of Ontario’s 400-series highways, advising on the provincial responsibility for the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway, and setting drinking water standards and air quality regulations.
Despite the Ford government’s emphasis on infrastructure projects like the Ontario Line subway expansion, Highway 413, and the Bradford Bypass, Bhatt noted that the treasury board negotiators haven’t aligned with the government’s pro-infrastructure stance. “Our fight is not with the government... the cabinet is saying this,” Bhatt said, but he noted that the treasury board negotiators "just don’t seem to get it."
The engineers have been without a contract for over a year, with the last negotiations held in August. Bhatt explained that attracting and retaining staff has been challenging due to higher pay offers from municipal governments and the private sector. A treasury board spokesperson defended the government's position, saying, "The government’s latest offer recognizes the specialized role of PEGO employees."
The current strike action will not see engineers walking off the job, but instead they will stop covering for other staff, assisting management, or working overtime without pay. Bhatt warned that the effects of this action will manifest gradually, potentially leading to project delays in the coming weeks. “The effect will be delays,” he said, with timelines slipping by two to four weeks depending on the project stage.
The union has the option to escalate its strike, potentially pulling engineers from key projects like Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass, which are central to the Ford government’s infrastructure agenda. Bhatt emphasized that this action is not what the union wants, saying, "Our favourite thing to do is to engineer and to build things."
The union has not set a deadline for further escalation but hopes the treasury board will return with an improved offer. Mediation talks are scheduled for October 18.
