Montreal-The principle in principle in extremis between Air Canada and the SCFP shows that “the federal government and the management of Air Canada have underestimated us”. They also underestimated the 10,000 on-board agents who “set their way” with courage, says the president of the SCFP-Québec, Patrick Gloutney.
The Canadian Public Service Syndicate (SCFP), which is affiliated with FTQ in Quebec, represents Air Canada on -board agents.
They concluded an agreement in principle, early Tuesday morning, after the intervention of the Federal Minister of Employment, Patty Hajdu, who imposed arbitration-which should have ended the strike and the lockout-and the intervention of the Canadian Industrial Relations Council, which had declared the illegal strike.
What made a principle of principle that could arise, in such a tense and avenue context? “We set off on the ground and we were respected as a union organization,” replied TAC to TAC M. Gloutney, in an interview.
“It is clear that the federal government and the management of Air Canada have underestimated us, above all underestimated the 10,000 on-board agents and our union, but above all, the union movement in its entirety,” said Gloutney.
“Article 107 (of the Canadian Labor Code, which was invoked to impose arbitration), clearly, breaks the right to freedom of association and to the right of negotiation. And even, we think it’s totally illegal and against the charter. The government, currently, through Air Canada, have shot in their boat by acting in this way, “said Gloutney.
It will now be up to the on -board agents to decide on the content of the agreement in principle. Mr. Glutney did not reveal the content of the agreement, since the members must have the premiere.
To come to Quebec?
Like the presidents of Central Centrals of Quebec, the president of the SCFP-Québec fears that other unions are undergoing the same treatment as on-board agents on the federal scene, with the new law in Quebec which limits the effects of strikes and lockout.
The new Quebec law, adopted in May, gives the Minister of Labor the power to impose arbitration on the parties, “if he believes that a strike or a lock-out causes or threatens to cause serious or irreparable damage to the population”. She specifies that “such a decision of the Minister puts an end to the strike or the lockout in progress”.
The new Quebec law also introduces the concept of “minimally required services”, in the event of a strike or lockout, in addition to those which were already provided in the Quebec Labor Code, namely essential services.
These are then “minimally required services to prevent disproportionate social security, economic or environmental security of the population, especially that of people in vulnerability,” it is said in the new law.
“The lesson to be drawn from negotiation at Air Canada is that the union movement will not be done. And, as I said from the start with Bill 89 (Minister Jean Boulet): the government wanted to go to war with us, and there will be consequences, ”thundered Mr. Gloutney.
The power stations have already expressed their desire to possibly challenge this law before the courts.