(Ottawa) This is a great victory for the union movement, but that does not stop the president of the Quebec Federation of Workers (FTQ) from being very worried. The House of Commons unanimously adopted the anti-scab bill on Monday. Magali Picard, however, fears that the 12-month implementation deadline would allow a possible conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre to overthrow it.
“I think he’s an opportunist,” she said bluntly. He understands the pressure that comes with today’s vote, the importance of this vote for workers. He tries to woo workers everywhere. »
The Conservative leader regularly travels to meet employees in factories across the country. He was last week in Trois-Rivières where he stopped at the Kruger paper factory and at Groupe Madysta, a telecommunications company.
Mr. Poilievre, like his entire caucus, voted for Bill C-58 at third reading in the House of Commons on Monday afternoon. This legislation aims to prohibit the use of replacement workers during a labor dispute in sectors under federal jurisdiction, such as banking, telecommunications and transportation. It has been awaited for decades by the union community, but is criticized by employers who fear an increase in labor conflicts.
PHOTO JUSTIN TANG, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre
Bill C-58, however, offers a glimmer of hope to people like Rachid Tari, a Videotron customer service employee who has been on the picket line for 7 months.
Since there is no anti-scabthe employer is not serious at the negotiating table because for him his business it still works because of the scabs.
Rachid Tari, union representative and employee of Videotron
The entry into force of C-58 was reduced from 18 to 12 months during the study in parliamentary committee, but the FTQ wants to continue to lobby to shorten it further as its study in the Senate begins.
The FTQ’s fears are shared by the leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), Jagmeet Singh, who accused his rival of having a “hidden agenda.” He recalled that the Conservative leader served as a minister in Stephen Harper’s Cabinet when he “reduced the powers of the unions.” The Harper government passed legislation to force unions to hold secret votes and another to force them to disclose all expenses over $5,000. They were quickly abolished after the Liberals came to power.
PHOTO JUSTIN TANG, THE CANADIAN PRESS
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh greeted locked out Videotron workers as he joined members of his caucus and union leaders to talk about the anti-scab bill.
He also argued that the Conservative leader has repeatedly voted against anti-scab bills introduced since he was elected MP in 2004.
“All these actions show an agenda against workers and against unions,” said Mr. Singh. And the fact that he voted against this bill eight times in the past and has now changed his position, that doesn’t change his record. »
At the time these lines were written, neither Mr. Poilievre nor his team had reacted to these comments. Requests for The Press on this subject remained unanswered.
The Bloc Québécois has presented eleven anti-scab bills since 1990, all of which were defeated. Quebec has had its own anti-scab law for 47 years. “We are satisfied, but not completely,” summarized its parliamentary leader, Alain Therrien.
PHOTO SEAN KILPATRICK, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Alain Therrien
The only pitfall that we see and that we have insisted on from the start: why wait a year before implementation?
Alain Therrien, parliamentary leader of the Bloc Québécois
He believes that rapid entry into force of the legislation could have helped the dock workers at the port of Quebec who have been locked out for 21 months. “We don’t know what can happen in the coming months,” he added.
Bill C-58 will have to pass all legislative stages in the Senate, including study in committee, which leaves little time for its adoption before the summer break in June. For now, the agreement of support and trust between the Liberals and the New Democrats still holds. It allows Justin Trudeau’s minority government to govern as if it were in the majority. In the event of an early election call before the bill is adopted by the Senate, it could die on the order paper.
“The last thing I wanted was to fundamentally change the way negotiations take place on the federal scene without having the necessary resources,” explained Labor Minister Seamus O’Regan. He wants to ensure that the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) will be adequately funded and that these employees have the necessary training before the implementation of the law.
Both parties will have 15 days to agree on the tasks to be maintained in the event of a strike or lockout. If they cannot do so, the CCRI will be called upon to decide.
The anti-scab bill was the subject of lengthy negotiations between the New Democrats and the Liberals. This is one of the most important demands of the NDP as part of this agreement. “It’s a historic day,” recalled Mr. Singh, who did not hesitate to take credit. “It’s thanks to the NDP, not the Bloc, not the Conservatives, not the Liberals. »