Saskatchewan Federation of Labour calls for anti-scab law

Banning strikebreakers shortens labour disruptions, reduces confrontation and raises productivity

Regina (9 May 2006) - The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour is asking the province's NDP government to adopt anti-scab legislation and once again it is running into resistance from its allegedly worker-friendly rulers.

While federation president Larry Hubich says such a law would shorten the length of strikes, reduce the number of confrontations on picket lines and raise the productivity of provincial workers, Labour Minister David Forbes responds that it is not a priority for the administration of Premier Lorne Calvert.

Anti-scab legislation exists in two Canadian provinces, Quebec and British Columbia. In both cases, it was approved when other governments were in power but, tellingly, neither province has moved to repeal the legislation, despite election of some labour-hostile regimes.

Only in Ontario, where anti-scab legislation was repealed by the former Mike Harris Conservatives, has such legislation been withdrawn once it has been put in place.

In Ottawa, the federal New Democrats introduced a bill on May 1 - International Workers' Day - calling for a prohibition on scab labour at the federal level. While the Harper Tories will likely oppose it, there is a chance the measure might win enough support from opposition parties to pass if it comes to a vote. NUPGE