Unifor members attend Manitoba question period to protest Premier Pallister's plan to change labour laws
Dozens of labour union workers attended question period at the Manitoba Legislature on Tuesday to protest the Tory Government's plan to change labour laws so that non-union workers can vote by secret ballot.
Frank Wright was at the Manitoba legislative building sitting in the gallery along with 49 other members of Unifor, Canada's largest private sector union representing more than 310,000 members across the country.
"We just want to make sure that he knows that we're watching him," said Frank Wright, a national representative for Unifor Canada.
Premier Brian Pallister said changing the legislation would save the province $12 million dollars by eliminating what he called "forced unionization."
Pallister has previously said the cost savings would come from no longer requiring companies to be unionized so they can work on Manitoba Hydro projects and East Side Road Authority construction work. Adding the labour agreements can force companies to pay dues to the union involved in the project, even if they are not part of that union.
Pallister said Tuesday his government plans to table the legislation over the next few weeks and expects the topic to be a "healthy debate."
"I'm glad to see my brothers and sisters in any union movement here at the legislature," said Pallister.
"I encourage Manitobans to be here and I'm not anticipating anything but a healthy debate and constructive debate about the issues we're bringing up."
Pallister argued the process as it stands right now is "unfair to unionized people and unfair to non-unionized people."
Wright said changing the legislation will hurt non-union workers making it harder for companies to form unions for protection in the future.
"The concern is we're always looking out for everybody not just our union members but we're looking out for people that aren't unionized, protecting rights for people who don't have a voice," Wright said.
Wright said it's already tough enough for Manitoba companies to have unions for their workers.
"I mean why is it needed? We already have in Manitoba one of the highest numbers needed...I mean you need 65 per cent in Manitoba to have automatic certification."
Right now workplaces require 65 per cent of the workers to sign up for a workplace certification vote. Wright said he'd like that lowered to 50 per cent like other jurisdictions across Canada.
Wright said Manitoba unions are also concerned they weren't consulted by the Pallister government about the proposed changes.
"Why not have him come out and talk to us? We just don't want Pallister to be a bully with his power."