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EDMONTON, Feb. 14, 2014 /CNW/ - The injunction awarded Friday against the Alberta government's Bill 46 is a welcomed development in the fight for fair bargaining, according to Unifor. As a result of the injunction, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) can proceed with a legal challenge to the bill.
"Bill 46 was a reckless attempt to weaken workers' rights," said Unifor Western Director Scott Doherty. "Given how heavy-handed and extreme the Redford government was treating public sector workers, we are not surprised that a judge ordered an injunction."
Bill 46 was passed in December 2013. It prohibited the AUPE from applying for compulsory arbitration to settle contract disputes. The injunction also blocks the collective agreement that was to be imposed on the union later this year.
"Unions and collective bargaining are the only way working people can achieve a level playing field with their employer," Doherty said. "Bill 46 was a violation of basic principles of fairness and justice."
Unifor President Jerry Dias will be in Alberta on February 18 (Edmonton) and 19 (Fort McMurray) to speak to members about the provincial and federal attacks on collective bargaining rights.
Unifor was founded Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions merged. With more than 300,000 members, Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector.
SOURCE Unifor
