Minister Raitt

Nobody likes a strike, specially if it impacts them. During the past months the government has intervened in the labour movement in a way like no other government ever dared to do. In the name of economic growth and stability, this government has once again stepped in and taken away the working man's right to fair negotiations and protection of his wages, health benefits, and pension. The right to strike was always meant to be the last resort in labour negotiations, but if corporations realize that the government is going to side with them, the need for true negotiations is negated.

Minister Raitt has been in  the front line for this government trampling the rights of the working people and will be rewarded. What she has done is wipe out a century old right for workers to strike when all else fails. I realize many people are anti-union but our country would be a lesser place were it not for the men and women who made gains  for the workers against tremendous odds. This government is embarking on a policy of feeding the corporations and the rich with their policies, and watch the fallout from the real plan for EI. This program is being sold as a program to help unemployed people to get work. That is the selling point. The real plan is for corporations  to be able to bring foreign workers into our labour force at wages far below the union rates.

This legislation will bring the government into the position of placing workers in jobs where they will have to accept wages at 30% less than their usual rate. Sounds good and looks good on paper if you are not one of the workers involved.

We hope that the government will get out of the business of labour bashing and start serving the country by helping the working class, and not only the rich and powerful.