The Conservative government’s legislation was not just about getting the Postal Worker’s back to delivering the mail: it was a majority government flexing its muscles. If Canada Post had lifted their employee lock-out, mail service would have continued.

As a bit of a preamble, the key sticking points for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) were sick leave, and Canada Post’s proposed lower wages and benefits for new hires. The workers went on rotating strikes, which did not disrupt mail in a meaningful way. Then Canada Post — a federal government institution — locked out their employees, which put an end to mail delivery.

Now, the Conservatives have legislated the postal workers back to work (they cannot strike, or be locked-out by Canada Post). Unfortunately, the government took further actions that I find disturbing (and I won’t even dwell on the fact that the whole thing reeks of conspiracy theory: a government institution benefiting from a right-wing, majority government decision). The government has intruded into the bargaining process and is riding the slippery slope of bargaining in bad faith. In particular, the legislation includes two points that are extremely unusual and display a complete lack of respect for the bargaining process:

  • The pay raise the workers will receive has been legislated, and the raise is less than what was offered by Canada Post during negotiations; Mr. Harper has attempted to justify this, but it is not his place to make these decisions. This should have been decided by an Arbitrator.
  • There will be no true ‘collective’ agreement. The government has stipulated that the Arbitrator will pick either the union’s package or the agreement proposed by Canada Post. This terminates any semblance of bargaining and will cause lingering bitterness between workers and management. This is not an Arbitration; this is a win/lose scenario, a step backward in the evolution of bargaining.

There are serious problems and power-struggles with any union-management bargaining process, but this legislation is not meant to solve problems; rather, it is a shot across the bow of every union in the country. Some people undoubtedly think this is a good thing, but I firmly believe that both sides in difficult negotiations are at fault; unfortunately, the government stepped in and weakened one side only: not a fair fight. And a blatant abuse of power.

Mr. Harper’s government has acted in a disrespectful, provocative, and arrogant manner.

Is this the beginning of the end for organized labor (a sad day for the working person), or is it the beginning of a battle?