Saskatchewan Employment Act attacks most vulnerable

OTTAWA, Dec. 17, 2012 /CNW/ - The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada says changes in the new Saskatchewan Employment Act undermine the 8-hour workday, restrict strikes, interfere with dues remittance, allow for the decertification of a union at any time and exclude employees with some supervisory duties from being part of the same bargaining unit.

The move to eliminate successor rights for cafeteria, janitorial and security employees in government-owned buildings is particularly regressive.

"By removing these rights only for cafeteria, security and janitorial staff the Saskatchewan Party is telling workers in these fields that they don't even deserve the 12 or 13 bucks they currently make" said Dave Coles, National President of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP).

Successor rights allow employees to keep their jobs as well as their union, collective agreement, wages, seniority and benefits when a new contractor takes over their work.

"This is a mean-spirited attack against some of the most vulnerable workers" said Coles. "If the Saskatchewan Party doesn't want to be seen as a bully picking on the weakest workers they must scrap this reform."

SOURCE: COMMUNICATIONS, ENERGY AND PAPERWORKERS UNION OF CANADA

Dave Coles, National President, [email protected], 613-299-5628