NUPGE urges against back-to-work legislation at Port of Montreal

"We are deeply disappointed that your office would consider introducing back-to-work legislation before the picket lines were even started. This only serves to allow the Maritime Employers Association to not bargain in good faith with the union. That your office has continued with this threat to the constitutional right of these workers severely undermines all labour relations in the country." — Larry Brown, NUPGE President

Ottawa (28 April 2021) —The President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), Larry Brown, has written to Filomena Tassi, the federal Minister of Labour. His letter raises the union's opposition to the possibility of the Liberal government legislating back-to-work the striking members of CUPE who work at the Port of Montreal.

"We are deeply disappointed that your office would consider introducing back-to-work legislation before the picket lines were even started," wrote Brown. "This only serves to allow the Maritime Employers Association to not bargain in good faith with the union. That your office has continued with this threat to the constitutional right of these workers severely undermines all labour relations in the country."

Workers deserve respect

Brown further points out that it "has widely been reported that the Port is important to the economic well-being of Canada. Perhaps it would be incumbent on the employer, and your government, to accord the workers there the respect they deserve for their work. To deny these workers their constitutional right, based on the economic impact on a few businesses, is unacceptable."

He concludes his letter by pointing out that "we are in the midst of a pandemic. That these workers felt it was necessary to go on strike to defend their work lives indicates how important the issues at stake are. For your government to further attack them would be a deep shame on your office."