Conservatives shouldn’t interfere in CP strike

Respect collective bargaining rights and allow sides to negotiate a deal: Boulerice

OTTAWA – The NDP is calling on the Canadian Pacific (CP) workers’ union and management to continue negotiations in order to reach an agreement as soon as possible to end the strike.

“Negotiation must be the only option considered to resolve this dispute. Federal intervention is unacceptable,” said NDP Labour Critic Alexandre Boulerice. “The union showed good faith by ensuring commuter rail service wouldn’t be affected in the country’s major cities. We must now let negotiations run their course.”

In less than a year, the Conservatives have interfered in three different labour disputes. The NDP condemned the Conservatives repeated interference in collective bargaining and pointed out the government was destabilizing negotiations by removing the employer’s incentive to negotiate.

“Air Canada and Canada Post employees already paid the price when Conservatives passed special laws to take away their right to strike. After three times in ten months, taking away workers’ rights has become a habit for these Conservatives,” said Boulerice. “The government must stop cutting the debate short and help both sides to reach an agreement.”