The federal government’s recent directive to the Canadian Industrial Relations Board to order members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) back to work is a clear attack on collective bargaining rights.
Minister of Labour Steven MacKinnon’s decision to invoke Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, Part I is a violation of the workers’ fundamental charter rights and signals to employers that the federal government sides with them during the collective bargaining process. The government’s interference in collective bargaining emboldens employers to attack workers’ rights and undermines principles of fairness.
The Society of United Professionals denounces the back-to-work order and stands in solidarity with postal workers, who form the backbone of Canada’s postal system.
Postal workers initiated strike action in order to achieve a fair collective agreement and important worker protections. When they made the decision to strike, they did so with care and concern not merely for themselves, but for future workers who are at risk of eroded workplace rights and benefits.
Amidst high rates of disabling injury, postal workers are asking Canada Post to take tangible steps to improve health and safety. They are calling for fair wages amidst a cost-of-living crisis. And they are defending their defined benefit pensions amidst proposals for a two-tiered system that targets incoming employees.
We support CUPW in their struggle for fairness, occupational health and safety, pension protection, and the democratic right to free collective bargaining.
