(TORONTO, ON) By passing back-to-work legislation to end the strike by CUPW workers seeking fairer and safer working conditions, the federal government has undermined the constitutional rights of all Canadians.
“The right to strike is enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. All Canadians should be concerned by the ease with which the government has stepped in to ignore workers’ rights and end this job action,” said Ontario Federation of Labour President Chris Buckley. “CUPW suffer the most injuries of any profession, are being forced to work long hours of overtime, and face pay inequalities that should not be tolerated in any workplace.”
Coming to the bargaining table to improve working conditions, then taking strike action to defend workers’ rights is one of the most important ways that workers can make gains for themselves, their co-workers, and future generations of workers.
“Striking is a last resort when an employer will not work to reach a reasonable collective agreement with their workers. For the federal government to use legislation to silence these workers’ important calls for change is disrespectful and sets a dangerous precedent,” said Buckley.
The OFL supports CUPW members in their demand for decent work.
“From now until the holidays, there will be 315 disabling injuries among postal workers, rural and suburban postal workers will work 250,000 hours without pay, and urban postal workers will work thousands of hours of forced overtime, all because the government has not respected these workers’ constitutional rights,” added Buckley.
The OFL represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario. For information, visit www.OFL.ca and follow @OFLabour on Facebook and Twitter.
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To arrange interviews or for further information, please contact:
Meagan Perry
Director of Communications
Ontario Federation of Labour
mperry@ofl-org.flywheelsites.com l 416-894-3456
