The PSAC held a press conference today at its headquarters to share its views on Bill C-4; the most recent omnibus budget bill that’s jam-packed with troubling changes. Union leaders are alarmed by the government’s continued assault on collective bargaining rights, health and safety in the workplace and options for victims of discrimination.
“These amendments, if passed, will roll back the state of labour relations thirty years by giving the employer extraordinary unchecked powers in all workplace matters,” said PSAC National President Robyn Benson.
“This legislation is unreasonable, and unfair.”
The government wants the exclusive right to determine which members are deemed essential. It also wants to require a consensus from both parties before moving to arbitration.
On the health and safety front, the union warned that the government’s decision to gut to the Canada Labour Code will be disastrous for both represented members and non-represented workers.
“Bill C-4 is life-threatening,” cautioned PSAC National Executive Vice-President Chris Aylward.
“The bill changes the definition of ‘danger’ to only include ‘imminent’ risks,” he explained. “This means that workers will have to be in harm’s way before they can establish that their working conditions are dangerous.”
The bill strips all authority and powers from health and safety officers and bestows them upon the minister. Aylward believes these changes will make it far easier for employers to ignore health and safety issues.
He also warned that these changes will politicize the process of monitoring and enforcing health and safety protections.
“Just yesterday on CBC Morning, Mr. Clement said ‘safety and security shouldn’t be a negotiable item,’” said UNE National President Doug Marshall, who was also on hand to field questions from the media. “Well, Mr. Clement, why is the Harper government weakening the Canada Labour Code? These changes mean that more Canadian workers will be killed in the workplace.”
“There’s one fundamental belief that’s present in every household across Canada,” said Marshall. “That’s the belief that when your loved ones leave for work in the morning, they’re coming home at the end of the day.”
“Too many people have been killed as a result of unsafe working conditions. They’ve paid the ultimate price for these protections – it’s an insult to their sacrifice to weaken these laws that keep Canadian workers safe.”