Striking Saskatchewan public employees protest violation of Labour Standards Act and use of scabs
Regina (4 Jan. 2007) - The Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union (SGEU/NUPGE) has filed an unfair labour practice complaint with the provincial labour relations board over excessive wage deductions affecting workers now on strike.
The union says the amount of wages deducted from the last pay cheque received by employees before Christmas exceeds the correct level by "about 16 hours pay."
"The government withheld wages that many workers had earned prior to the date the strike commenced and deducted two days pay from all corrections workers whether on days of rest, banked time, vacation leave or on the picket line," says union president Bob Bymoen.
Bymoen is accusing the government of interfering with a legal strike and attempting to lower morale among workers who are fighting for a fair contract. He is demanding swift action to compensate workers affected.
“This is money the workers are entitled to,” Bymoen says. “Here we have a government that doesn’t abide by the Labour Standards Act and pay its employees according to their own laws. It’s another example of what a poor employer it is and what we’re facing at the bargaining table.”
The union also accuses the government of hiring “scabs” to work in correctional centres and youth facilities during the strike.
Provincial law permits the RCMP to maintain the peace in correctional facilities in the event of job action by staff. It has also been common practice in the past to use "out-of-scope managers" to fill in as well.
"However, in this strike, former in-scope employees have been crossing the picket lines to work in the centres," Bymoen says.
Along with repaying improperly deducted wages, he is also demanding that the use of "scabs" be stopped. NUPGE
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