The Customs and Immigration Union wishes to echo in the strongest of terms the concerns voiced by Paul Boucher, President of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference: The August 24 decision by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to allow the federal government to force an end to job action for striking rail sector workers and to impose binding arbitration between the parties sets a dangerous precedent for the Canadian labour movement and the rights of workers.
By preferring to protect the economic interests of large employers, the federal government has taken a clear stance against those who Canadians rely on everyday to drive the economy safely and securely: The workers themselves. Worse, by failing to support rail workers, the government also sends a clear signal to the industry sector as a whole that safety plays second fiddle to corporate economic concerns.
This is a dangerous precedent indeed, and Canadians should take note.
Time and again, unions have demonstrated how essential the rights to organize, mobilize, and strike are as part of a fair and just society. It is through these actions that workers can push back against employers who wish to erode working conditions and safety rules alike. CIU members themselves are well-acquainted with the importance of union mobilization as part of the negotiation process, and the recent decision to strip rail sector workers of those rights is simply shameful.
We applaud the Teamsters for remaining uncowed and for seeking to appeal the ruling, and we are proud to stand with them.
In solidarity,
Mark Weber
CIU National President