DEATH A
THE
OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING?
THE GLORY DAYS OF UNIONS ARE OVER AND WITH AN INCREASE IN GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION CANADA'S UNIONIZED WORKERS, AND THOSE WHO REPRESENT THEM, ARE WONDERING WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.
BY JEFF MACKINNON
ir Canada has had two strikes. The one in 1998 involved pilots; it lasted 13 days and was settled through bargaining during what were profitable times. The other, last June, involved front-counter staff; it was settled after three days — mere hours after the federal government tabled back-to-work legis- lation. The first strike occurred while the Liberals were enjoy- ing a majority in the House of Commons with Jean Chrétien as prime minister. Today, Stephen Harper's Conservatives run the country, also with a majority. But while Chrétien stayed out of Air Canada's contract squabble in 1998, Harper has not.
In light of labour disputes in recent months by both Canada Post and Air Can-
ada, academics and labour lawyers across the country are now discussing Harper's apparent war with the labour movement in Canada. Some unions are preparing to enter the trenches to fight that battle while others already have done so.
w w w . CANADIAN Lawyermag.com JAN UARY 2012 27
