Over 100 people rally against back to work legislation

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ANCOUVER (NEWS1130)- More than 100 people rallied outside Vancouver’s downtown library Tuesday afternoon, unhappy with the latest federal back to work legislation.  

Other unions are backing CP Rail workers in their fight with Ottawa, claiming all workers have a stake in the issue.  

The Tories plan to get CP Rail workers back on the job before the end of the week is not popular with the group.  The BC Federation of Labour’s Jim Sinclair says it hurts workers bargaining abilities.

“The Supreme Court said it was a fundamental right, but we’re going to have to keep fighting for that because they’re taking it away,” suggests Sinclair, adding the legislation harms the bargaining process.  “This is about attacking unions and attacking what we do, which is collective bargaining.”

John Bail with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers says it’s happening too often.  This the third time in a year back to work legislation has been used.  His union was the first to be legislated back.

“Companies know that (government) is going to step in, so they don’t have to negotiate.  The pressure goes off the company to give any kind of proposals,” says Bail.
    
Gerry Ranson, with the Teamsters Rail Conference, representing CP employees says it’s clear the company was always relying on eventual action from government in the dispute.

“CP Rail demonstrated that from the get go, I mean they came in there with big demands.  Especially when you start attacking legal pensions as they call it, really not moving of their mark.  Trying to change our work rules to make us work longer (days),” claims Ranson.

The Federal Conservatives suggest the country can’t afford a lengthy rail strike, and believe it has to be ended to avoid major impacts on workers and companies in sectors that rely on rail.

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