Labour groups apply to intervene in appeal of Sask. law that forces workers to 'out' trans youth
CTV
Three unions have joined forces to intervene in the appeal case over Saskatchewan's pronoun consent law.
Three unions have joined forces to intervene in the appeal case over Saskatchewan's pronoun consent law.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) and the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) announced a joint application to intervene in the Court of Appeal over the province's pronoun law on Monday.
"I wish there were a situation where we didn't have to intervene to protect the Charter rights of kids, and workers," CUPE Saskatchewan president Kent Peterson said. "Unfortunately, this is the path the provincial government has taken."
The organizations say they are concerned the legislation inflicts harm on youth, compels teachers and education workers to inflict that harm and it sets a precedent to “override workers' Charter rights into the future,” according to a news release.
"Outing Saskatchewan young people in schools, in the case of Bill 137 — primarily trans students or those young people that wish to use different pronouns or different names — is a harmful and violent act," Peterson said.
"Bill 137 actually forces education workers to out that student and inflict violence on them in that way."
The law requires parental consent for students under the age of 16 to change their names or pronouns while at school.
