BQ Leader Gilles Duceppe signs The Workers' Bill of Rights

Quebec political leader joins New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton in defending the rights of workers

Montreal (8 Jan. 2006) - Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe has become the second national political leader to sign The Workers' Bill of Rights, pledging his support for the freedom of workers to form unions and to determine wages and working conditions through collective bargaining without interference by government. Sign the Workers' Bill of Rights

The former union activist in Quebec has joined NDP Leader Jack Layton in adding his signature to the document, unveiled last month by the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW Canada).

At the time, NUPGE president James Clancy and UFCW Canada director Michael Fraser challenged all party leaders and their candidates to sign the document, which calls on all parties to begin respecting the international labour and human rights agreements that Canada has signed but has failed to honour over the years.

These include human rights and labour declarations and commitments signed by Canada at the level of the United Nations and the International Labour Organization.

A record of defending workers

Last year, the two unions, which represent more than half a million workers across the country, published a study citing 170 pieces of legislation, passed by all levels of government in Canada since 1982, that have violated, ignored or broken the international commitments Canada is obligated to uphold.

"On behalf of Mr. Gilles Duceppe, candidate in the riding of Laurier-Sainte-Marie and leader of the Bloc Québecois, we acknowledge having received your letter," NUPGE has been advised by France Amyot, the BQ leader's communications director.

"Mr. Duceppe was very pleased to sign the Workers’ Bill of Rights," Amyot wrote.

"The leader of the Bloc Québecois started out in the union world where he worked for several years before pursuing his social commitment in federal politics.

"As you undoubtedly know, the Bloc Québécois is very sensitive to the labour world and has on many occasions come to the defence of workers, both in the House of Commons and in various parliamentary committees where issues affecting workers are debated," Amyot said.

"Some of these issues included the creation of an independent EI fund, the implementation of anti-scab legislation in the Canada Labour Code and the protection of jobs in the industrial field in response to globalization."

'An important stand'

NUPGE leader James Clancy thanked Duceppe for his support and renewed his appeal to all other candidates and leaders to follow the example set by the BQ and NDP leaders. (All NDP candidates have also signed the document since it was issued in December.)

"Our political leaders, and all Members of Parliament, must honour the international standards that we have agreed at the level of the UN and ILO to uphold. This is so basic and so fundamental that is goes without saying. Yet Canada's international record is riddled with duplicity. It's a serious stain on our international reputation," Clancy said.

"Gilles Duceppe has taken an important stand in defending the rights of workers that have been abused and trampled upon by Canadian governments at all levels for decades. I commend him and I urge all other candidates in the Jan. 23 federal election to follow the example that he and Jack Layton have set." NUPGE