TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - July 12, 2016) - Since 2012, the Ontario Liberals have ignored repeated calls from Legal Aid lawyers for collective bargaining rights with the union of their choice, The Society of Energy Professionals.

The Society of Energy Professionals, Ontario Federation of Labour President Chris Buckley and organizers with the Fight for $15 and Fairness campaign will join picketing Legal Aid lawyers to call on the Ontario government to update the province's outdated labour laws and stop denying Legal Aid lawyers their Charter rights - Wednesday, July 13 at 5:30 p.m.

Legal Aid lawyers are picketing outside of the Ontario Liberal fundraiser - the Red Tent Event - calling on Premier Kathleen Wynne and Attorney General Yasir Naqvi to end the discriminatory campaign against Legal Aid lawyers.

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) lawyers are one of the last group of provincial public sector lawyers unable to exercise their right to join a union, resulting in the inability to address workplace concerns. Unlike other public sector lawyers, two-thirds of Legal Aid lawyers are female, and many are racialized peoples.

"LAO lawyers provide legal services to the most vulnerable Ontarians. They work for families, the poor, refugees and young people who need help. Yet, like many Ontario workers, these lawyers' right to their own collective voice is being ignored by the government," OFL President Chris Buckley.

Who:	Chris Buckley, OFL President
	Michelle Johnston, The Society of Energy Professionals
	Dana Fisher, Legal Aid Lawyer
	Jared Ong, Fight for $15 and Fairness
When:	Wednesday, July 13, 2016, from 5:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Where:	55 Bloor Street West, Toronto
What:	Photo and audio opportunity with OFL President, Legal Aid lawyers, local & provincial labour advocates.

The OFL has joined non-unionized workers, students and community groups in the "Fight for $15 and Fairness" campaign, for stronger employment laws that protect all workers. For more information on the campaign, visit www.15andFairness.org.

The OFL represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario. For information, visit www.OFL.ca and follow @OFLabour on Facebook and Twitter. To learn more about the OFL's Make It Fair campaign, visit www.makeitfair.ca.