Paying off the province's business community
Regina (16 May 2008) - The right-wing government of Saskatchewan Party Premier Brad Wall has now rammed both of its anti-labour bills – introduced as its first priority after winning power last fall – through the provincial legislature.
The measures are widely seen as pay-offs to the business community for longstanding financial and ideological support.
Bill 5, the Essential Services Act, and Bill 6, amendments to the Trade Union Act, strengthen the hand of employers at the expense of workers and unions.
Bill 5 gives enormous powers to employers to designate essential employees while Bill 6 makes it easier for employers to coerce and intimidate employees during organizing drives.
The New Democratic Party opposition voted against both bills in the legislature. The bills have also been opposed strenuously by the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour and its unions, including the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union (SGEU/NUPGE).
The federation says Bill 5 robs workers of the fundamental right to withdraw their services during a labour dispute while Bill 6 frees managers to intervene directly with employees when they are considering joining a union. Under the previous legislation, such pressure tactics by employers were deemed unfair labour practices. The legislation also ends automatic union certification when more than 50% of workers in a work place sign union cards. NUPGE
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