Tomorrow, December 13, marks the one-year anniversary of former Minister of Labour Steven MacKinnon\u2019s Section 107 order that put our legal strike \u201con pause\u201d for six months.<\/p>\n
MacKinnon\u2019s order called on the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to determine whether CUPW and Canada Post were likely to reach negotiated settlements before the new year. If the CIRB decided this was not likely, the Board was to order postal workers back to work. The CIRB held hearings over the weekend. By Sunday evening, the Board determined that contracts were not likely. As a result, the Board ordered postal workers in both bargaining units to \u201cresume and continue their duties\u201d at 8:00 am local time, on December 17, 2024, until May 22, 2025. As part of the return-work-order, we received a 5% retroactive wage increase from January 1, 2024 (RSMC) and February 1, 2024 (Urban).<\/p>\n
MacKinnon\u2019s unconstitutional attack on postal workers\u2019 right to strike was just one of many the Liberal Government had launched over the course of the year. Before us, striking (or locked out) airplane mechanics, port workers, and rail workers were similarly hit with Section 107 back-to-work orders. After us, it was Air Canada flight attendants.<\/p>\n
Section 107 is an affront to workers\u2019 most basic rights to free and fair collective bargaining. The power to end a legal strike should not be at the whim of the Minister responsible for labour. Trampling workers\u2019 Charter rights and the entire Canada Labour Code with the click of a button is no way to secure \u201cindustrial peace.\u201d<\/p>\n
Like back to work legislation, the Government\u2019s repeated misuse of Section 107 is another tool used to tip the balance of power in employers\u2019 favour. When employers know they can fall back on the Government for support, they have no reason to seriously negotiate.<\/p>\n
In our own case, repeated government interventions have only delayed the bargaining process, pushed problems and issues to further rounds of bargaining and undermined postal workers\u2019 trust in the government.<\/p>\n
Bill C-247: Repeal Section 107\u00a0<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why we welcome the New Democratic Party\u2019s private Member\u2019s bill, Bill C-247<\/a>, that would amend the Canada Labour Code and delete Section 107 from the Act.<\/p>\n To show your support, you can sign Canada Labour Congress President Bea Bruske\u2019s petition in support of this bill, sponsored by Winnipeg Centre\u2019s Leah Gazan: https:\/\/www.ourcommons.ca\/petitions\/en\/Petition\/Details?Petition=e-6979<\/a><\/p>\n