Georgetti Slams Government for Latest Back to Work Legislation

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - May 28, 2012) - The President of the Canadian Labour Congress has slammed the Conservative government for imposing back to work legislation in a labour dispute between Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, which represents striking conductors, engineers and traffic controllers.

"First it was Canada Post, then air Canada and now CP Rail. This government is interfering regularly in labour disputes and companies know they don't have to bargain seriously with workers because the government will bail them out."
Georgetti was commenting on the announcement by Labour Minister Lisa Raitt that the federal government is introducing legislation that will force the workers back to their jobs with no negotiated agreement in place.

"The government should stay out of this dispute and to allow the Teamsters union and CP Rail to come to a negotiated settlement," Georgetti says. "This is a signal to CP Rail and any other federally regulated employer that they don't have to bargain seriously because the government will intervene on the side of the employer and against the workers."

Georgetti warned of negative longer-term implications of the government's meddling in collective bargaining. "This is a fool's paradise. It will poison the workplace environment. Workers who have been bullied will find ways to make their displeasure known and that could be disruptive."

The Canadian Labour Congress, the national voice of the labour movement, represents 3.3 million Canadian workers. The CLC brings together Canada's national and international unions along with the provincial and territorial federations of labour and 130 district labour councils. Web site: www.canadianlabour.ca. Follow us on Twitter @CanadianLabour.