Professional engineers and land surveyors employed by the Ontario Public Service (OPS) are set to initiate legal strike action for the first time in their bargaining association’s 35-year history, following 20 months without a contract. The Professional Engineers Government of Ontario (PEGO), which represents these professionals, announced the strike would begin on October 8, citing prolonged negotiations with the Treasury Board of Ontario that have yet to yield a fair offer.
The action will start with a work-to-rule campaign and could escalate to targeted labour withdrawals by specific groups of employees. The labour dispute is expected to affect the government’s capacity to manage and deliver on key infrastructure projects across the province.
PEGO members, who work in 11 different ministries and agencies, play a crucial role in overseeing the province’s $185 billion infrastructure plan and maintaining over $85 billion in existing public assets, including the 400-series highways. Their responsibilities extend to enforcing the Ontario Building Code, ensuring fire and food safety, and maintaining clean air and safe drinking water standards.
PEGO President Nihar Bhatt, P.Eng., expressed frustration over the lengthy negotiations, pointing to the exodus of engineers and surveyors from the public service due to higher salaries in other sectors. “We are engineers and surveyors; we want to be building. We want to support Ontario’s ambitious infrastructure agenda, but adequate engineering resources need to be available to deliver on it,” said Bhatt.
The association highlights that PEGO members earn significantly less—between 30% and 50%—than their counterparts in municipalities, other government agencies, and the private sector. This pay disparity, PEGO claims, is a major factor driving recruitment and retention challenges, with vacancies reaching critical levels. As a result, projects like Highway 413, the Bradford Bypass, and Northern Ontario highway expansions could face delays.
PEGO said it remains open to negotiations and has called on Premier Doug Ford to urge the Treasury Board back to the table with a fair offer that will allow essential projects to proceed as planned.
“We just can’t understand why the Treasury Board negotiators have been so slow to recognize that there is a problem,” Bhatt noted, emphasizing the association’s readiness to collaborate on solutions that align with Ontario’s infrastructure goals.
During the strike, PEGO and the Treasury Board have agreed to maintain essential and emergency services to ensure public safety.