Postal Workers Suing Ottawa over Back-To-Work Bill

Lawsuit could decide whether or not the right to strike is protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers is suing the federal government over the back-to-work legislation it passed to force an end to a lockout-cum-strike earlier this year. The union says such bills – which Federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt has dangled in front of other unions to encourage them to sign new contracts - threaten workers' rights to associate. The lawsuit will also seek to determine whether the right to strike is guaranteed by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The back-to-work bill ended 12 days of rotating strikes followed by a complete lockout at Canada Post. The bill forced the union to accept a four-year contract and lower wages than what Canada Post had been offering during negotiations. It also led to the word "draconian" briefly coming back into vogue.

Elsewheres in labour land, Air Canada flight attendants say they will strike as of 12:01 a.m. Thursday regardless of whether Raitt refers their contract dispute to the Canada Industrial Relations Board. She had said doing so would prevent the Canadian Union of Public Employees from striking, but it looks like the 6,800 or so attendants aren't paying her any heed.