Statement made on 20 October 2011 by Senator Art Eggleton
Hon. Art Eggleton:
Honourable senators, lately the government has been wading into employer-union discussions with Air Canada employees.
The Globe and Mail said on this matter:
The federal government's explanation for its intervention in the labour dispute between Air Canada and its flight attendants — that the global economy remains fragile . . . does not amount to a coherent policy.
That is true. It is not a coherent policy; it appears to be ad hoc.
No one wants a work stoppage, especially if they are planning to fly Air Canada, but no one wants their rights taken away, either. The government should be protecting workers' rights, not taking them away. By asking the Canada Industrial Relations Board to determine whether a disruption of service at Air Canada would pose a health and safety risk to the public, the minister is, I would suggest, using the board and its function inappropriately.
Will the government step back and allow Air Canada and its employees the opportunity to exercise their rights to negotiate?
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