Bill C-525 – Another Conservative Attack on Workers

Bill C-525 is another attack on our union rights and was brought forward as a private member’s bill from Conservative MP Blaine Calkins.

Bill C-525 would change the rules that apply when workers decide whether or not to have a union in their workplace. Under the current laws, if a majority of employees sign union cards their union can be certified. The Bill would impose a forced vote even when a majority of workers have clearly shown they want a union.

The Bill also proposes to remove Section 39(2) of the Canada Labour Code. Under this section, a union cannot be decertified when a collective agreement is not in force.  The purpose is to give collective bargaining a fair chance and only applies when the parties have reached an impasse. It helps reduce instances of employer intimidation tactics to try to get the union decertified rather than negotiate an agreement and is particularly appropriate where an agreement is being negotiated for the first time.

This is another Conservative bill aimed at weakening unions by masking the true intent of the bill. The real purpose of Bill C-525 is to make it harder for workers to organize.

Please send an email to your local MP demanding that they vote against this bill. You can send a personalized message online here:

http://ontario.psac.com/email/send-your-member-of-parliament-a-message

In Solidarity,

Sharon DeSousa,

PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President – Ontario