The federal government has not hesitated to get involved in national labour disputes in the past few months. With a Commons majority, decisions are being made despite what the other parties have to say, and our legal right to collective bargaining is being threatened.
Within hours of the Air Canada flight attendants announcing a strike deadline, a spokeswoman for Labour Minister Lisa Raitt expressed disappointment and concern for the economy, while alluding to government intervention as a possible solution.
The 6,800 flight attendants have been without a contract since March 31, and are seeking improvements in wages, pension and working conditions. 65% of the voting union members rejected a second tentative deal last week and served strike notice for October 13.
In June, when Air Canada’s customer service agents walked off the job, Labour Minister Raitt also threatened to force strikers back to work, even though there were few flight delays. Consequently, a settlement was quickly reached prior to legislation being tabled.
Around the same time, Raitt introduced back-to-work legislation to end a dispute at Canada Post that shut down the post office.
These actions of hasty government intervention threaten our legal right to collective bargaining and set a precedent.By using the “fragile economy” card as a justification for taking away our legal rights to bargain and strike, is it possible that we are being convinced that our rights are only important so long as they don’t get in the way of big business or the convenience of others?
It seems that many people are against striking workers because the work stoppage may affect their own lives, and because they think that the workers are just being greedy and should go back to work like everyone else has to.
What people forget is that unions were created to protect working people. Unions have been responsible for the rise of the middle class. They help workers make fair wages so that they have more spending power, which leads to the increasing demand for things, which leads to the creation of more jobs and economic growth. Unions brought us many things we hold true and dear, such as unpaid and paid leave, the minimum wage, weekends, and the end to child labour.
Taking away these rights and using back-to-work legislation sends a dangerous message to employers that they don’t need to negotiate with their workers.
