The Grey Bruce Labour Council says all workers should be concerned with the Ford government’s Bill 28.
The Keeping Students in Class act uses the notwithstanding clause in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to impose an agreement on education workers and fine the workers $4,000 a day if they strike.
“Bill 28 is not just an attack from a Conservative government on a union they disagree with,” said Vice-president of Bruce County for the Grey Bruce Labour Council Dave Trumble. “It’s a fundamental attack on union and labour rights.”
Trumble joined the Canadian Union of Public Employees at a picket outside MPP Lisa Thompson’s office in Kincardine Friday morning. Despite the threat of fines, workers walked off the job.
“We don’t see this as an end of a process,” explained Trumble. “We see this as the first step in undermining the ability of the trade union movement to align with their Charter rights, to actually negotiate and ultimately if negotiations fail, to take the action necessary to get results at the bargaining table.”
Trumble maintained when unions win, everybody wins.
“The old saying [is] ‘a rising tide lifts all boats,’” said Trumble. “Well, typically those in the unorganized part of the labour force, when union members do well, they come along, perhaps a lesser pace, but they come along as well,” Trumble said.
