On Aug. 18, in the heat of the labour dispute between Air Canada and its flight attendants, the Society released a solidarity statement with striking workers who were ordered to return to work by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB). We understand that when other workers’ right to strike is under attack, our own right to strike is at risk.
The Society views the right to strike as an important tool for workers during labour disputes and stands with the broader labour movement in opposing the federal government’s use of s. 107 of the Canada Labour Code to prevent legal strikes in federally regulated labour disputes. This contravenes the Supreme Court of Canada’s ruling in Saskatchewan Federation of Labour v. Saskatchewan, whereby the court found that the right to strike is an “indispensable component” of collective bargaining and protected under the charter. While strong collective agreements have been negotiated for Society locals whose dispute resolution clauses restrict the local to mediation and arbitration, other locals have benefited from negotiations that permit the right to strike.
As the letter was published, Air Canada flight attendants defied the CIRB order and forced the employer back to the table to negotiate in good faith. A collective agreement was reached through the bargaining process that delivered significant gains for flight attendants standing up against unpaid work. Provisions surrounding wages have progressed to arbitration.
You can read the letter published by the Society here.
