Essential services are already well protected in Canada

Fear mongering by business community is no reason to prevent passage of C-257, argues Canadian Labour Congress

Ottawa (6 March 2007) - Members of Parliament will vote March 21 on third reading of Bill C-257, which would make it illegal for employers governed by the Canada Labour Code to hire replacement workers while their own employees are locked out or are on strike.

The Canadian Labour Congress is urging workers and supporters across the country to lobby MPs as intensively as possible in the coming days to vote for passage of the bill. Media reports announcing the demise of the legislation because the Liberal party has switched its position are premature, the CLC says.

“We still expect this to be a free vote. We still expect that a majority of MPs will vote in favour of this legislation because they will listen to their hearts and to the voices of the majority of their constituents who are people who work for wages,” says Ken Georgetti, president of the three-million member congress.

He says media coverage on the issue has been overly negative and reflects "intense fear mongering" by the business community on what may happen to essential services when work stoppages occur.

Essential services are not threatened

"Essential services are already protected by both the Canada Labour Code and other statutes that deal specifically with federal public services," the CLC notes.

"Passing C-257 does nothing to diminish those protections. Those protections are contained in section 87.4 of the Canada Labour Code which are in effect and will remain in effect."

Maintenance of essential services has to be agreed upon - by the parties involved in a dispute - to the satisfaction of the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) before any work stoppage can legally take place. In its rulings, the CIRB has confirmed seven times in the last six years that section 87.4 is an essential services clause, the CLC adds.

During its review of Bill C-257, the Commons standing committee on human resources heard from many witnesses: 13 representing working people and 32 representing employers, plus various technical experts. What stood out were the irrational and self-serving arguments business put forward to confuse and scare MPs.

Lobby MPs in their ridings

“We do not doubt many MPs’ Ottawa office received letters, phone calls and visits in recent weeks from the business lobbyists," Georgetti says.

"However, MPs will be home in their ridings over the next two weeks and they will hear their constituents. Canadians expect the kind of balance and fairness in labour relations that Bill C-257 will add to the Canada Labour Code. That is why a strong majority of MPs supported the bill, in second reading, four months ago. We would expect them to do so again in 20 days, because their constituents asked that they remain on their side,” he argues.

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), one of the major unions in the CLC, is also urging members and activists across Canada to make sure MPs hear their voices in support of Bill C-257 before the March 21 vote takes place in Parliament. NUPGE

More information:
• Liberal Party withdraws support for anti-scab legislation
• Tories drag out anti-scab hearings at committee
• Corporate Canada's last desperate push to stop C-257
• Anti-scab vote a landmark moment for Canadian workers
• Anti-scab legislation a victory for workers' rights in Canada
• What's good for Quebec and B.C. is good for Canada
• NUPGE president James Clancy says it's time for Parliament to act
• Labour Day Launch for final bid to win anti-scab law
• NUPGE's labour rights page