MPs reject private member's bill banning the use of replacement workers

GATINEAU, April 13 /CNW Telbec/ - Private Member's Bill C-263, seeking to amend the Canada Labour Code to ban the use of replacement workers during a work stoppage, was rejected by Members of Parliament in the House of Commons today. The Honourable Joe Fontana, Minister of Labour and Housing, did not support the private member's bill, which would have introduced an ad hoc amendment to Part I of the Canada Labour Code, the legislative framework that governs labour relations in the federal private sector. Specifically, the Bill contains serious flaws that would weaken workers' rights within the collective bargaining system, rights that are currently enshrined in part I of the Labour Code.

"The issue of replacement workers is very divisive within the labour relations community. The current provisions of the Canada Labour Code, which were introduced in 1999, seek to accommodate the competing interests of labour and management, and represent a compromise coming out of the last review of Part I of the Canada Labour Code," indicated Minister Fontana.

Minister Fontana further stated: "As Minister of Labour, I have committed to re-examining the issue but only in the context of a broader review of Part I of the Canada Labour Code, which would involve extensive consultations with
all client groups, rather than the ad hoc approach taken with this bill."

Part I (Industrial Relations) of the Canada Labour Code elaborates procedures governing the collective bargaining process in the federal jurisdiction, including dispute resolution through conciliation and mediation as well as preventive mediation and grievance mediation. Part I of the Canada Labour Code is administered jointly by the Labour Program, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada ( http://labour.hrsdc-drhcc.gc.ca ) and the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB). The CIRB is an independent representational quasi-judicial tribunal. Its mandate is to interpret and apply the provisions of Part I of the Canada Labour Code dealing with bargaining rights and unfair labour practices ( http://www.cirb-ccri.gc.ca ).

For further information: Peter Graham, Director of Communications,
Office of the Minister of Labour and Housing, (819) 953-5646; Elizabeth
MacPherson, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, Human Resources and
Skills Development Canada, (819) 997-1118