jenny@nw
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C-257: what's good for B.C. and Quebec is good for Canada
CLC hopes anti-scab legislation will finally
be approved by the Canadian Parliament
Ottawa (9 June 2006) - After the first debate on Bill C-257 - the proposed new anti-scab bill before the House of Commons - Canadian working families feel more confident that Parliament will finally adopt legislation to ban the use of scabs during disputes governed by the Canada Labour Code.
"It's a matter of fairness and balance," explains Ken Georgetti, president of the Canadian Labour Congress. "The prohibition to use scabs protects the interests of working Canadians and their families against the might of large, often global, employers with no roots in the community."
James Clancy, president of the 340,000-member National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), agrees.
"Workers have the human right to organize, the right to bargain collectively and the right to withhold their services in the event negotiations fail," he argues "Using scabs to replace striking workers undermines those human rights."
Such legislation exists in Quebec since 1977 and in British Columbia since 1993. In both cases, the result has been a general decline in the loss of work time due to strikes or lockouts. Disruptions that have occurred have been reduced in length and intensity.
"If it's good for BC and Quebec, it's good for all of Canada," says Georgetti.
"It is well documented that employers that hire scabs during strikes or lockouts are given an unfair advantage to drag their heels in bargaining, reaping profits from unpaid salaries (scabs are often paid less) and compromising any hope for a fair settlement," he notes.
"The ongoing dispute at the Ekati Mine in the Northwest Territories makes the case in favour of this legislation. For months now, the huge multinational corporation BHP Billiton has evaded its duty to arrive at a first collective agreement with its 400 members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, regardless of the consequences for workers and community.
"The Prime Minister campaigned on the promise to help working families in Canada. He can now move beyond the rhetoric of an election campaign to concrete action by supporting this legislation," says Georgetti.
"We thank the Bloc Québécois and the New Democratic Party who are working together to secure the adoption of that bill and we also thank all the Liberal MPs who have announced that they will vote for its adoption." NUPGE
C-257: what's good for B.C. and Quebec is good for Canada
CLC hopes anti-scab legislation will finally
be approved by the Canadian Parliament
Ottawa (9 June 2006) - After the first debate on Bill C-257 - the proposed new anti-scab bill before the House of Commons - Canadian working families feel more confident that Parliament will finally adopt legislation to ban the use of scabs during disputes governed by the Canada Labour Code.
"It's a matter of fairness and balance," explains Ken Georgetti, president of the Canadian Labour Congress. "The prohibition to use scabs protects the interests of working Canadians and their families against the might of large, often global, employers with no roots in the community."
James Clancy, president of the 340,000-member National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), agrees.
"Workers have the human right to organize, the right to bargain collectively and the right to withhold their services in the event negotiations fail," he argues "Using scabs to replace striking workers undermines those human rights."
Such legislation exists in Quebec since 1977 and in British Columbia since 1993. In both cases, the result has been a general decline in the loss of work time due to strikes or lockouts. Disruptions that have occurred have been reduced in length and intensity.
"If it's good for BC and Quebec, it's good for all of Canada," says Georgetti.
"It is well documented that employers that hire scabs during strikes or lockouts are given an unfair advantage to drag their heels in bargaining, reaping profits from unpaid salaries (scabs are often paid less) and compromising any hope for a fair settlement," he notes.
"The ongoing dispute at the Ekati Mine in the Northwest Territories makes the case in favour of this legislation. For months now, the huge multinational corporation BHP Billiton has evaded its duty to arrive at a first collective agreement with its 400 members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, regardless of the consequences for workers and community.
"The Prime Minister campaigned on the promise to help working families in Canada. He can now move beyond the rhetoric of an election campaign to concrete action by supporting this legislation," says Georgetti.
"We thank the Bloc Québécois and the New Democratic Party who are working together to secure the adoption of that bill and we also thank all the Liberal MPs who have announced that they will vote for its adoption." NUPGE
:angry:
