Labour

During question period on labour, the NDP asked the government to support an NDP bill repealing section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, arguing the government’s labour legislation attacks workers’ right to strike and favours employers, and unions back the repeal. The Liberals replied that they respect workers and collective bargaining but say those rights sometimes need federal support, and pointed to Bill C-39’s new measures, such as mediation, to help the two sides reach agreements and reduce the likelihood of strikes.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

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2 statements

Leah Gazan, Winnipeg Centre

NDP
“I want the government to vote for our NDP bill to protect workers' right to strike. Their current labour bill attacks that right and caves to company bosses.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I have good news. Today, the Liberals have a chance to vote for our NDP bill to repeal section 107 and protect the right to strike. Unions and workers everywhere have supported it. The government has a clear choice, continue its unconstitutional attacks on workers in Bill C-39 or vote in favour of our NDP bill. Which is it? Will the Liberals finally respect the demands of workers or continue caving to CEOs by violating the right to strike?

Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Liberal

Linked statement

“We respect workers and their right to bargain together, but sometimes they need federal help to do it. Our bill adds new measures to help both sides reach a deal. We want strikes to happen much less often.”
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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, obviously, we honour the role of workers, honour the role of organized labour and recognize that, in fact, there are rights to collectively bargain, but sometimes those rights, in order to be exercised, need federal support, especially in Canada Labour Code situations. We will, under Bill C-39, put in place new, expanded measures in order to support parties that find it difficult to achieve a collective agreement. We want to make those strikes all too rare.

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