The Grey Bruce Labour Council says workers across Canada deserve to see a federal government that secures and celebrates the rights of workers and unions.
Dave Tremble, Labour Council VP for Bruce County, says following the resignation of Justin Trudeau, the labour council wants to see a government that sets the stage for unions and for workers to be easily organized.
With that goal in mind, Tremble says there are some major things they wanna see from whatever future federal government takes power.
"The number one thing would be the ability to organize without so many barriers being put into place. The next one would be the idea that labour has always stood behind a very vigorous, well-funded public service," Tremble stated.
Tremble says that includes things like healthcare organizations, pensions, or health and safety regulations. Tremble says workers deserve to have a government that stands behind them and their rights, and the GBLC is fearful that a Pierre Poilievre government would strip back the rights for workers and unions.
He points out there are some key items they'd like to see addressed by whoever forms the next federal government.
"Number one would be enshrine the Rand Formula, and what Poilievre wants to do is take that away. We wanna have the Rand Formula enshrined in the Charter (of Rights and Freedoms), so it goes along with organizing and freely collective bargaining," said Tremble.
The Rand Formula was named after a decision from the Supreme Court of Canada delivered by Justice Ivan Rand in 1946. Rand was arbitrating a heated strike in Windsor between 17,000 Ford workers and the Ford Motor Company. Essentially, the formula required all workers under a collective bargaining structure to pay union dues, even if they aren't a union member, to pay the union's costs of negotiating and administering the labour contract for all workers in a workplace.
Another thing that Tremble says the GBLC wants to see is anti-replacement worker legislation.
"The other one is the idea of really setting the stage for anti-replacement worker legislation. Provincial unions in Quebec have shorter strikes than anyone because it forces the employer to come to the table, they can't just bring in replacement workers and carry on with business as usual," Tremble shared.
A release from the Grey Bruce Labour Council on January 13 opens by stating that "No Canadian federal government has ever put workers at the top of their agenda. Except for Jack Layton’s federal NDP caucus there has never been an official opposition in the parliament of Canada that could lay claim to such a place of honour."
"Except for hovering around the margins of an agenda for workers the Trudeau Liberals have been no different," says Labour Council President Kevin Smith.
The release from the GBLC also claims that Poilievre "is keen on destroying the Rand formula and implementing 'right to work' legislation. Such legislation is designed with one objective, to permanently damage unions and the trade union movement."
"Poilievre knows that unions and organized labour are a staunch guardrail against a federal Conservative government running workers and their representatives into the ground," noted Tremble.