MFUR President Paul Moist out in solidarity today at the Winnipeg Airport in support of CUPE’s striking Air Canada flight attendants.
CUPE’s Air Canada component has been fighting hard for their members on a number of issues including hours of unpaid mandatory work. Thousands of unpaid hours go into safety checks, boarding, deplaning and assisting passengers with special needs. No worker should ever be forced to work for free.
Now, less than 12 hours after the strike began, Federal jobs minister Patty Hajdu has invoked Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to force Air Canada flight attendants back to work.
The right to strike is protected by Canada’s Constitution. It helps workers and employers negotiate fair wages and good working conditions. When the government uses Section 107 too often, it can make workers feel like they have no real power to stand up for themselves.
The Congress of Union Retirees and MFUR condemn the actions by the Minister and support the legal challenge against Section 107. We believe the law is being misused and that it violates workers’ constitutional rights. We want the courts to declare that using Section 107 in this way is unconstitutional and to protect workers’ rights to protest and strike.
