Canada’s 18 federal public service unions met earlier this week to decide their next move in response to the tabling of Division 20 of Bill C-59, the Budget Implementation Act (BIA), which gives the government the authority to unilaterally amend the sick leave provisions of the collective agreements covering employees of the core public service. Today, the unions are also jointly filing a complaint with the Geneva-based ILO asserting that the measures included in the December 2013 omnibus BIA – Bill C-4 – contravene ILO conventions that protect free collective bargaining and the right to strike.
“Our solidarity pact remains in place. We are united and even more determined to defend the constitutional rights of our members,” said Ron Cochrane, the union Co-Chair of the National Joint Council. “We are taking all steps at our disposal including appealing to the body that enforces international conventions on labour rights.”
The unions emerged from their meeting with a comprehensive coordinated legal plan to respond to bills C-4 and C-59 and stop the continuing attack on the fundamental constitutional right to fair collective bargaining, and a common approach to bargaining to push back the federal government’s latest move to impose a predetermined outcome on negotiations.
“Bill C-59 is all about trying to force us to accept a “go to work sick” plan by threatening to impose it if we do not agree,” Cochrane said. “It runs completely contrary to the Public Service Labour Relations Act (PSLRA) and it’s a violation of the collective bargaining rights that citizens have under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. And, like Bill C-4, it contravenes international conventions. We will not be intimidated by the federal government’s bully tactics.”
The 18 federal public service unions have also agreed to plan coordinated actions to mobilize federal public service employees in the face of the assault on collective bargaining rights.
The Federal Bargaining Agents of the National Joint Council are:
- Association of Canadian Financial Officers
- Association of Justice Counsel
- Canadian Air Traffic Control Association, Unifor Local 5454
- Canadian Association of Professional Employees
- Canadian Federal Pilots Association
- Canadian Merchant Service Guild
- Canadian Military Colleges Faculty Association
- Coast Guard Marine Communications Officers Unifor Local 2182
- Unifor, Local 87-M
- Federal Government Dockyard Chargehands Association
- Federal Government Dockyard Trades and Labour Council (East)
- Federal Government Dockyard Trades and Labour Council (West)
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 2228
- Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers
- Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
- Public Service Alliance of Canada
- Research Council Employees’ Association
- Union of Canadian Correctional Officers – CSN
