Federal Anti-scab Bill Could Become Reality

Of course, business and the Conservatives oppose it.

Even though the Conservatives are "in power" in Ottawa, the fact it's a minority government means there's still the possibility that good legislation could get passed. Perhaps the best example of that is a proposed law that would make it illegal for companies to hire scabs, replacement workers, during a strike or lockout.

The bill was first put forward by a member of the Bloc a number of months ago. On October 25, it took a giant step closer to becoming a reality when the House of Commons voted 167 to 101 in favour of the proposed federal labour law.

In a second-reading vote, the bill received unanimous support from the NDP and Bloc Quebecois, and most Liberals also voted in favour of it. Most Conservatives opposed it. Before becoming law, the proposed anti-scab legislation still has to go through a committee review and a final vote in the House of Commons.

"This is wonderful," Federal NDP Leader Jack Layton said. "It is a historic moment for such a bill to be supported, even if the government opposed it."

Bill C-257 would revise the Canada Labour Code, and impose maximum $1,000-a-day fines on employers who use replacement workers during labour disputes. Quebec and British Columbia already have anti-scab laws.

Conservative Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn said he still hopes that the bill will be defeated. Not surprisingly, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce also opposes it.

"The impact would not only be on the sectors of the economy directly affected (by the Canada Labour Code)," said Mike Murphy, a policy vice-president at the chamber, "but on everyone else that uses these key sectors."

Although most Manitoba workers are covered by Manitoba labour laws, not federal, the fact that the proposed anti-scab legislation would have a ripple effect beyond workplaces operating under federal legislation is one reason why ALL Manitoba workers should be expressing their support for the legislation. The most important person to express that support to is your Member of Parliament.

You can contact your MP by email from this web site. Just find your member on the list below and click on the link that will open a blank email addressed to them. Doing so is especially important if your MP is NOT an NDP member.

Rod Bruinooge (Conservative), Winnipeg South, e-mail: rod@bruinooge.com
Bill Blaikie, MP (NDP), Winnipeg Transcona, e-mail: bill@billblaikie.ca
Tina Keeper, MP (Lib), Churchill, e-mail: keeper.c@parl.gc.ca
Steven Fletcher, MP (Conservative), Charleswood St. James Assiniboia, e-mail: steven@stevenfletcher.com
James Bezan, MP (Conservative), Selkirk - Interlake, e-mail: office@jamesbezan.com
Inky Mark, MP (Conservative), Dauphin - Swan River - Marquette, e-mail: inkymark@mb.sympatico.ca
Pat Martin, MP (NDP), Winnipeg Centre, e-mail: martipd@parl.gc.ca
Anita Neville, MP (Liberal), Winnipeg South Centre, e-mail: email@anitaneville.ca
Brian Pallister, MP (Conservative), Portage Lisgar, e-mail: brianpal@mb.sympatico.ca
Raymond Simard, MP (Liberal), Saint Boniface, e-mail: info@raymondsimard.ca
Vic Toews, MP (Conservative), Provencher, e-mail: toewsv1@mts.net
Joy Smith, MP (Conservative), Kildonan-St. Paul, e-mail: joy@joysmithmp.ca
Judy Wasylycia-Leis, MP (NDP), Winnipeg North Centre, e-mail: judywl@total.net
Merv Tweed, MP (Conservative), Brandon - Souris, e-mail: tweedmp3@mts.net