This is an archive of news stories and research from the National Union of Public and General Employees. Please see our new site - https://nupge.ca - for the most current information.
"This book makes the connection between labour rights and human rights. It brings together the perspectives of a group of prominent individuals who share the view that labour rights and independent unions are essential for democratic and just societies.”
 |
 |
Toronto (19 April 2012) – The Canadian Foundation for Labour Rights (CFLR) hosted a book launch for "Constitutional Labour Rights in Canada: Farm Workers and the Fraser Case", a new book on labour rights in Canada.
The book is a collection of 11 essays related to the Supreme Court of Canada April 2011 decision in Ontario (Attorney General) v Fraser, which dealt with the scope of constitutional protection of collective bargaining. The case involved a constitutional challenge to Ontario’s Agricultural Employees Protection Act (AEPA) which denies collective bargaining rights to 80,000 agricultural workers in Ontario. It was brought forward by United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Canada.
The decision, which denied the union’s challenge, was a major setback for UFCW Canada and its 20 year struggle to achieve labour rights for Ontario’s vulnerable agricultural worker.
For the Canadian labour movement and their advocates, Fraser was ambiguous. The Supreme Court showed how badly divided it is over the scope of protection that freedom of association provides to the right to bargain collectively. Eight of the nine judges agreed that the legislation met the constitutional standard of freedom of association, although they did so for three very different sets of reasons.
This collection attempts to untangle the judicial discord over the meaning of freedom of association in the context of collective bargaining and provides the social context for current attack on labour rights in Canada. It also includes a photo essay depicting the appalling working conditions faced by migrant farm workers.
“This book makes the connection between labour rights and human rights,” noted CFLR Board member, James Clancy. “It brings together the perspectives of a group of prominent individuals who share the view that labour rights and independent unions are essential for democratic and just societies.” Clancy is also the National President of the 340,000 member National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).
The contributors include trade unionists, union-side lawyers, and labour law academics. Four of the contributors – Judy Fudge, Paul Cavalluzzo, Wayne Hanley and Steven Barrett – are CFLR Board members. Derek Fudge, who serves as the CFLR secretariat, also contributed an essay.
More information:
Constitutional Labour Rights in Canada: Farm Workers and the Fraser Case
www.labourrights.ca
CFLR
The Canadian Foundation for Labour Rights (CFLR) is a national voice devoted to promoting labour rights as an important means to strengthening democracy, equality and economic justice here in Canada and internationally CFLR was established and sponsored by the National Union of Public and General Employees. CFLR