Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2
Mr. Prime Minister,
The Confederation of Canadian Unions urges all Canadian governments, both federal and Provincial, to respect the January 2015 decision of the Supreme Court of Canada which states that the right to strike is constitutionally protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The CCU has always maintained the right to strike is crucial and fundamental to free and fair collective bargaining, and that there can be no binding requirement on employers to bargain in good faith in the absence of the right to strike.
We are embarking on a new chapter in Canadian law in which a right to meaningful collective bargaining and the right to strike are fundamental rights under our constitution.
We urge the federal government to set an example by respecting the rule of law in our constitutional democracy and removing the provisions of Bill C-4 that violate freedom of association through removing the right to strike.
It is our hope that Provincial governments will follow suit and remove the unconstitutional provisions from any essential services legislation that may exist in their respective jurisdictions. In addition, we urge federal and provincial governments to cease the habitual use of “back-to-work legislation” that interferes with collective bargaining and violates workers’ constitutional right to strike.
Sincerely,
John Hanrahan
President, Confederation of Canadian Unions
CC: Provincial and Territorial premiers
Leader of the Official Opposition
Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada
Leader of the Green Party of Canada
