Unions hammer Carney government’s revamp of labour rules: ‘This bill neuters the right to strike’ - Toronto Star

While the act preserves the right to strike, it removes leverage federally regulated workers gain from walking the picket lines, experts say.

Canadian unions and labour organizations are warning new legislation will make strikes in federally regulated sectors all but impossible.

Unions and labour organizations across the country blasted the federal government’s new legislation overhauling labour law, saying it will make strikes in federally regulated sectors all but impossible.

In a written statement after the Building Canada Strong Act was tabled Monday in the House of Commons, the Canadian Union of Public Employees said the act undermines the right to strike for federally-regulated workers, including in the railway, airline, ports and banking sectors.

“When companies know the government will bail them out, they have no incentive to do the hard work at the bargaining table to get a deal done,” said CUPE secretary treasurer Candace Rennick. “This bill gives airlines, shipping companies and other major corporations all the advantages over workers.” 

CUPE national president Mark Hancock warned that “gutting hard-won rights and protections for Canada’s workers” will introduce volatility at a time the country can least afford it.

“Let’s be clear: we will not win this trade war or make Canada stronger by stripping away the Charter rights of our own people.”

The head of the union representing B.C. dock workers said the bill gives the federal labour minister such broad powers that it makes a legal strike by his members effectively impossible.

“The bill would grant the minister the authority to order workers back to work by ‘forming an opinion’ that a stoppage affects ‘the national interest,’ said Tom Doran, president of the Canadian section of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. “The first factor the bill lists is significant impact on the Canadian economy. Every port dispute in this country affects the economy; as such, writing this test into law effectively legislates away ILWU members’ right to strike.”

The act includes changes to the Canada Labour Code, which say the federal labour minister can order binding arbitration if a strike or lockout has the potential to harm the national interest, under Section 107 of the code.

While the minister already had that power under Section 107, the new act makes it more clear that it could be used pre-emptively, argued the head of the Canadian Labour Congress.

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government tabled a bill Monday to fast-track approvals for major projects.