Member’s Statement: Labour Laws and the Omnibus Bill
Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity to meet with union representatives for firefighters, police officers, university faculty, public employees and private sector employees to discuss the proposed changes to the binding arbitration process contained in Bill 24, the omnibus bill. Mr. Speaker, the changes to our labour laws proposed in Bill 24, if adopted, will have the effect of shutting down meaningful collective bargaining. That’s what will happen if employers have the unilateral ability to trigger binding arbitration.
Following extensive consultation processes, firefighters and the police gave up their right to strike in return for a robust arbitration process that was praised by then Labour Minister Mike McKee. If passed, the omnibus bill will break that agreement. The changes to our labour laws must be severed from the omnibus bill, put on ice, and meaningful consultations must begin.