Labouring on

While it may be easily drowned out by both the hype surrounding tomorrow's budget and speculation about the future of the Accountability Act, the NDP is once again putting federal anti-scab legislation before Parliament:

NDP MP Pat Martin (Winnipeg Center) is introducing legislation today that would ban the use of replacement workers during labour disputes and work stoppages under federal jurisdiction...

"Workers have the right to organize, the right to bargain collectively, and the right to withhold their services in the event negotiations fail," said Martin. "Using scabs to replace striking workers undermines those rights."...

"Anti-scab legislation means fewer and shorter strikes and lockouts and less likelihood of violence or property damage," said (NDP MP Yvon) Godin. "Anti-scab legislation helps keep workers on the job and businesses on the go."

"Look at jurisdictions where you have anti-scab legislation," said Godin, "there are fewer days lost due to strikes and lockouts. Disputes are settled quickly and peacefully because the system is working the way it was intended."

It'll be interesting to see whether the Libs are determined enough to polish up their left-wing credentials to actually cooperate in passing the bill now that they're in opposition. Unfortunately, it seems highly unlikely that the Libs will stop sulking long enough to back the NDP's effort, meaning that the bill won't likely make it through Parliament.

Even with the bill likely doomed to rejection in Parliament, it's nonetheless worth the NDP's while to highlight both the problems in the current labour relations scheme, and the presumptive unwillingness of the Cons and Libs to be part of any solution. And Canadian workers should once again take note as to which federal party is looking out for their interests.