Labour Rights are Human Rights
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE)and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) have completed a study that reveals 170 pieces of legislation that have denied or undermined basic Freedom of Association rights since 1982.
The freedom to join a union and bargain collectively has been undermined by all levels of government. Abuses are also rampant in the agriculture industry and among private sector employees like Wal-Mart, the unions say. An education and action campaign has been launched to raise awareness and challenge the abuse of labour rights.
In Saskatchewan, the provincial government has passed legislation that attacks our rights. Bills 5 and 6, the essential services act and amendments to the Trade Union Act, are undermining the ability of workers to join trade unions and engage in free collective bargaining.
Here are some resources to help sort through these issues.
SGEU Fact sheet
Essential Services Legislation: Will it facilitate or impair industrial relations? By Dan Cameron
Joining the Race to the Bottom
Bill 6, The Act to Amend the Trade Union Act (Bill 6), reduces the ability of Saskatchewan workers to form unions and get their employers to the bargaining table. This paper assesses the purpose and potential consequences of Bill 6.
The National Union of Public and General Employees has extensive resources and studies on their website.
SGEU leaflet from May, 2008.
SFL labour legislation webpage
Taking action
SGEU and NUPGE have not taken this attack on our rights lightly. SGEU and our national union have launched a complaint against the government of Saskatchewan over Bills 5 and 6 with the International Labor Organization (ILO). We are arguing that the legislation violates international conventions that Canada has signed. The ILO, a United Nations agency, will be hearing our case in the new year. These are the documents supporting our complaint.
SGEU/NUPGE news release on ILO complaint
SFL ad
