New Democrats challenge Liberals on right for workers to strike

OTTAWA – Members of the NDP caucus joined together in support of the Air Canada flight attendants who came to Ottawa to make their voices heard on their fight to put an end to unpaid work.
NDP MP and Labour critic Alexandre Boulerice announced the party's plan to put an end to the government’s reliance on Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, bringing fairness to workers and restoring their Charter right to strike.

Despite the attempt by Liberal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu to force Air Canada flight attendants back to work by invoking Section 107, thousands of workers defied her order and continued their job action.

“Canada’s flight attendants have spent countless hours working for no pay, and when they stood up for themselves, this Liberal government tried to shut them down,” said Boulerice. “Liberal and Conservative governments have consistently violated Charter rights by interfering in the collective bargaining process.

New Democrats will always stand up for full freedom of association, strong unions and free collective bargaining,” said Boulerice.

Section 107 has seen a stark increase in usage over the past year, with the Liberals invoking it to put an end to strikes by railway workers, port workers, Canada Post workers and now the failed attempt to muzzle Canada’s flight attendants. New Democrats plan to introduce a Private Member’s Bill to scrap Section 107 entirely, ensuring workers can fight for fair wages and good work environments without fear of the government unilaterally shutting them down without so much as a debate in Parliament.

“Employers now have disproportionate power in negotiations. They know that if they can’t force an agreement on their workers, this government will bail them out,” added NDP Leader Don Davies. “Invoking Section 107 has become this government’s ‘plan A’, and that should never have been the case. That’s why we will put an end to this abuse and protect workers and their right to strike.”