Canada’s nurses express their disappointment with the federal Labour Minister’s decision to impose binding arbitration to end the lock-out at ports in B.C., Montreal and Quebec City. This decision risks undermining workers’ fundamental right to fair collective bargaining.
Despite record profits during the pandemic, employers at these docks have refused to engage in meaningful negotiations and instead have pushed workers to the brink. Port workers are not making unreasonable demands – fair wages, job security and safe working conditions.
With the federal government decision to resort to binding arbitration under section 107, we fear it sends a message that employers do not need to engage fully in negotiations as they can wait for the federal government to intervene.
On behalf of the over 250,000 members of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, we extend our solidarity with workers at ports across Canada standing up for a fair deal.