CUPE Ontario warns Carney Liberals: Remember what happens when governments try to remove workers’ right to strike

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ontario’s largest union expressed its shock at federal Liberal proposals to designate more workers “essential” as a way of removing their right to strike and it warned Prime Minister Carney that attempts to abrogate workers’ Charter-protected rights to free collective bargaining would be met with fierce resistance from labour.

“The Carney Liberals must have the shortest memories ever,” said CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn. “They appear to have already forgotten that less than a year ago, 10,000 CUPE flight attendants refused to give up their right to strike to defend against unpaid work.

“Three years ago, there was nearly a general strike in Ontario, when the entire labour movement came out in support of 55,000 CUPE education workers, who defied Doug Ford when he tried to remove their right to strike. And just today the International Court of Justice confirmed that International Labour Organization Convention 87 protects workers’ right to strike – and Canada ratified that convention in 1972.”

The government’s discussion paper outlining the proposed changes was given to only a few select parties for comment and was issued with very tight timelines.

“What the federal government does affects all workers, not just those covered by federal labour laws. Every right-wing premier across the country is waiting to follow the federal government’s example and strip workers of the fundamental right to strike,” said Hahn.

In contrast to Carney’s proposals, the Ontario Nurses’ Association recently launched a constitutional challenge to regain nurses’ right to strike. It bases its challenge on the argument that the current system of forced arbitration makes it impossible for workers to bargain improvements and protections that reflect changing workplaces.

CUPE Ontario also challenged the government’s claim that the proposed changes to Canadian labour laws are to “ensure that workers are better protected and supported.”

“Standards and protections that we take for granted today – the 8-hour workday, weekends, parental leave, pensions, and so much more – none of them were given by the good graces of employers or the government,” Hahn pointed out. “Each of these rights was won by workers who withdrew their labour when necessary.

“So whatever back room deal the Liberals are cooking up with Canada’s CEOs, they need to understand: the right to strike is something workers know is necessary to the gains they make. It is a right we will defend, and if federal Liberals want a fight on this point. they will get one.”

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