Harper Government Provoking a Confrontation With Labour Movement
Jun 17, 2011
The announcement by Lisa Raitt, federal Labour Minister, that the government will push through back-to-work legislation to end strikes at Air Canada and Canada Post is “a troubling sign the Harper government intends to spend the next four years trampling on the fundamental rights of workers”, according to the president of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).
“It’s unbelievable that a government which purports to be non-interventionist is so quick to interfere in a labour dispute,” said James Clancy, NUPGE national president. “They clearly have no respect for labour rights and don’t understand how collective bargaining works.”
Clancy suggested there is an alternative motive behind the legislation.
“This is a clear sign that Harper intends to replicate the mean-spirited and divisive politics of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker," said Clancy. "It’s a politically-driven agenda to support his corporate friends and it’s an ideologically-driven attack on workers’ rights and the union movement,” said Clancy.
“Harper narrowly won a majority government and now we’re witnessing a concerted effort to weaken the rights of workers and the influence of their unions to bargain basic things like wages and good pensions.”
“If they get away with this, I’m afraid we’ll see the assault on labour rights spread across the country like a grass fire,” said Clancy.
“The labour movement must stand shoulder-to-shoulder across the country and fight against Harper’s ideological attacks,” said Clancy.
“We must give meaning to labour’s old adage that ‘an injury to one is an injury to all.’ These legislative attacks don’t just impact postal and airline workers. A bad labour law, regardless of what workers and what jurisdiction it covers, has a negative impact on the entire labour movement.”
Clancy also urged Canadians to think about the broader impact this attack has on society as a whole. “Unions have always fought to improve the quality of life for all families. A weaker labour movement will lead to more job insecurity, fewer rights and benefits and greater income inequality for all workers.”
Comments
Comments are now closed
What's truly disturbing about the Harper Government's back to work legislation are the number of people I've talked to who don't care or care to understand what the government is doing. They're basically telling every national employer out there that they've got their backs.
Jeremy - 2011-06-20 12:38