The Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) is joining with other unions and labour organizations across Canada in condemning the federal government’s planned changes to the labour code that will take power away from workers and hand it to their bosses.
In the Build Canada Strong Act, the government is proposing changes to Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code that would expand the ability of the federal labour relations minister to end a strike in a federally-regulated workplace, which includes the banking, telecommunications, and transportation sectors – and covers about 1.4 million Canadian workers.
The right to strike is fundamental for workers to protect themselves. Employers already have enormous power over jobs, investment and the workplace. Workers balance that power by standing together and, when necessary, withdrawing their labour. Taking power away from workers doesn’t create labour peace. If employers expect government to step in, they have less reason to compromise.
Thousands of Canadians, including Air Canada flight attendants and Canada Post employees, have already seen what happens when this government overreaches to end labour disputes: workers lose and billion-dollar businesses are allowed to continue to exploit their employees.
The proposed changes do not directly impact CAPE members who, as federal public servants, fall under the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations Act. But this move is deeply concerning to all workers, as it speaks to the government’s ongoing hostility towards labour and the potential that similar changes could be made to the laws governing public sector employees.
CAPE members and all Canadians must stand against this abuse of power. Write to your MP and tell them to reject this unfair law and protect the right to strike for all workers in this country.
