A good friend of mine just today posted an article in "Canadian Dimension" about the whether the right to strike and collective action still exists at the Federal level of industries regulated by the Federal Government of Canada.
Brad Walchuk, an expert on Labour History and current PhD Candidate at York University, describes in great detail how the Harper government has forced workers to accept their current position and try to rid them of their rights as workers and citizens of Canada. Without any hesitation, the Conservative government has interfered in the Collective Bargaining process enjoyed in free societies in an effort to keep the Labour Movement at bay. Although Back-To-Work Legislation is not new, Walchuck makes clear mention that this is usually only done after clear contemplation by governments and as a last ditch effort, not an automatic response to a dispute.
We are seeing this here in the United States as well, particularly in Wisconsin and Ohio where state governments have been, or are in the process of, wiping out the Collective Bargaining process all together. Governor Walker in Wisconsin may have recently won his recall election but it does not mean workers and other citizens will support him later on in his re-election campaign, and people in Ohio are going to be seeing a possible referendum on the matter.
This attack on workers needs to stop and respect for the bargaining process must come back. We all want productive industries and societies but it will not happen if workers keep being attacked, especially in free countries.
For full text of Brad's article, go to http://canadiandimension.com/articles/4749/
