'Return to the Stone Age': Ontario public servants rally against Ford's return-to-office order | CBC News

"On Thursday, the Association of Management, Administrative and Professional Crown Employees of Ontario (AMAPCEO) held rallies across the province in support of remote work, calling on the province to reverse what it describes as a "disruptive and unnecessary" mandate. At one rally outside Queen's Park in Toronto, about 200 members delivered a petition opposing the mandate which the union said had collected more than 13,000 signatures to Secretary of Cabinet Michelle E. DiEmanuele."

"AMAPCEO CEO and president Dave Bulmer said members are frustrated by the abrupt shift away from hybrid work, which has been in place since 2022. "We've been working with hybrid fashion for three-and-a-half years. This is sort of the norm for us. And so going back to a five-day work week is going to be like the proverbial return to the Stone Age," Bulmer said, adding members have typically worked "three days in the office, two days from home.""

"The Ford government announced last month that employees of the Ontario Public Service (OPS), provincial agencies, boards, and commissions must increase their in-office presence from three days a week to four starting on Oct. 20. By Jan. 5 next year, staff will be mandated to be in the office full time. AMAPCEO filed a policy dispute earlier this month, alleging the government violated its collective agreement by failing to provide enough notice before implementing the new policy,."

AMAPCEO organized provincewide rallies opposing a provincial mandate requiring Ontario Public Service employees to increase in-office days. About 200 members delivered a petition with more than 13,000 signatures to Secretary of Cabinet Michelle E. DiEmanuele. The government ordered OPS staff and related agencies to move from three in-office days to four starting Oct. 20 and to full-time in-office by Jan. 5. AMAPCEO filed a policy dispute alleging a collective agreement violation for insufficient notice. The union warned the mandate could worsen existing recruitment and retention challenges. Members report frustration after three-and-a-half years of hybrid work, typically three days in-office and two days remote.

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