Back-to-work legislation tabled in labour dispute
Posted Jun 20, 2011 3:24 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Back-to-work legislation to end the Canada Post lockout was tabled in Ottawa. Federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt introduced the bill Monday.
Urban postal operations were suspended countrywide last Wednesday after nearly two weeks of rotating strikes by the union. The two sides made no progress in their talks over the weekend.
The Opposition is promising to fight the legislation. House Leader Peter van Loan says it might not get passed before the end of the week when summer break was supposed to start.
“They could filibuster and keep us here around the clock for a long time.”
As a result he says he’ll extend the spring session as long as needed. The NDP’s Jo Comartin says his party is prepared to stay longer to stand up to the union.
“Management of the Post Office has made some very clear decisions, including the lockout, as a clear statement that they’re expecting the government to take care of this for them.”
Jon Hamilton with Canada Post says his side is still aiming for a negotiated settlement.
Meanwhile, mail trucks are rolling around Calgary now as a few postal workers have volunteered to deliver about 23,000 pension cheques.
Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers previously agreed to keep distributing the payments if the strike reached this point.
President of the Calgary local for the C.U.P.W. Anna Beale stood on the picket line while trucks returned after their rounds.
She tells 660News, the Harper government has no business meddling in the negotiations.
