Postal union decries back-to-work legislation as debate rages on
By Nelson Daily Staff
Union members were rallying behind postal workers Friday, taking a stand against the Conservative government’s back-to-work legislation for CUPW members on strike against Canada Post, even as the legislation is debated in the House of Commons.
Community members and locked out Canada Post workers occupied Ottawa West-Nepean MP John Baird’s office, demanding that the government retract its back-to-work legislation.
If the back-to-work legislation passes, the new CUPW collective agreement would be decided by a government-appointed arbitrator.
The parties would each submit a draft collective agreement and the arbitrator would be forced to choose one in its entirety. This process of final offer selection ensures that the process is biased towards the employer.
“This legislation is an attack on collective bargaining rights and is a threat to all workers – especially young workers,” said Larry Rousseau, PSAC’s Regional Executive Vice-President for the National Capital Region.
On the Hill, members of Parliament remain locked in debate early Friday over legislation that would send Canada Post employees back to work and end a lockout.
MPs were supposed to leave Ottawa on Thursday to head home for the summer, but instead pulled overnight shifts in the House of Commons debating Bill C-6, which would order both sides in the Canada Post labour dispute to resume mail delivery immediately.
Opposition MPs continued to make lengthy speeches designed to delay passage of the bill and to take turns filling their seats in the House.
