strike deadline
postponed
for loblaws,
superstore workers
TORONTO — UFCW Canada Local
1000A and Loblaw Companies returned to
the negotiating table on July 2 at the request
of an Ontario Ministry of Labour media-
tion officer.
Two days of negotiations between the
parties resulted in an amended offer on
July 3.
The union postponed its strike deadline
of Sunday, July 5, to allow members time
to examine and vote on the amended offer.
Ratification votes were scheduled across
the province, to end on July 8.
Should the new offer be rejected, strike
action will begin at 12:01 a.m. on July 11 at
all 60 Loblaws and Superstore locations
across Ontario.
Ap p r ox i -
mately 12,000 employees will be affected
by the vote.
PsAC launches
court action
against bill C-59
OTTAWA — The Public Service Alliance
of Canada (PSAC) launched a legal chal-
lenge against Bill C-59 on June 30.
Bill C-59, the omnibus 2015 Budget
Implementation Act, gives the federal
government power to amend certain pro-
visions in government employee contracts
without first negotiating the changes with
unions.
PSAC filed its constitutional challenge
to the legislation in the Ontario Superior
Court of Justice.
According to the union, the bill denies
employees' right to good faith bargaining
by giving the employer the unilateral au-
thority to establish terms and conditions
related to sick leave, including the estab-
lishment of a short-term disability pro-
gram and the modification of the existing
long-term disability program.
"We believe this is a violation of our
rights under the Canadian Charter of
Rights and Freedoms," said PSAC national
president Robyn Benson. "If the govern-
ment can do this to the federal public ser-
vice, they can do it to anyone."
The union has requested the court de-
clare Bill C-59 to be in direct violation of
employees' Charter rights.
Several other unions have also spoken
out against the legislation, with the Profes-
sional Institute of the Public Service of Can-
ada (PIPSC) and the Canadian Association
of Professional Employees (CAPE) publicly
condemning the bill alongside PSAC.
"The changes brought about by Bill C-59
are illegal and unconstitutional because
they interfere with 'meaningful collective
bargaining' which the Supreme Court has
confirmed is protected by the Charter,"
said Emmanuelle Tremblay, president of
CAPE.
lAboUr brieFs
2
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lAboUr lens
A worker walks toward a mine in South Africa, where the National Union of Mineworkers is con-
sidering legal action against the government if the company cuts jobs due to weak prices.
