Kent Peterson, the president of Saskatchewan’s largest union – CUPE Saskatchewan – has sent a letter to Secretary of State Buckley Belanger urging him and his federal Liberal government to respect Charter-protected workers’ rights.
The federal Liberal government unfairly and unconstitutionally intervened in the collective bargaining process between Air Canada and their flight attendants – members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). By directing the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to impose binding arbitration and declare the flight attendants’ job action illegal, the federal Liberal government has rewarded Air Canada bosses for bad-faith bargaining and stripped dignity and Charter-protected rights from workers.
“We defy your Liberal government’s illegal and heavy-handed tactics,” wrote Peterson in the letter to Belanger.
Peterson’s letter continued:
“As the lone representative of the federal government in Saskatchewan, the 31,000 Saskatchewan workers I represent urge you to use your position as a Liberal Member of Parliament and a Secretary of State to persuade your government to revoke its directive to the Canadian Industrial Relations Board, and let the parties engage in a free collective bargaining process – inclusive of the right to strike.
The workers on strike are over 70% women and are fighting for basic dignity: pay for all hours worked, wages that keep pace with inflation, and an end to poverty wages for junior flight attendants that leave many relying on food banks despite full-time employment.
Air Canada’s refusal to negotiate fairly is staggering. While the airline posted billions in profits over the last two years, it insists on paying junior flight attendants $1,952 per month – less than federal minimum wage. Their counter proposal? An ‘increase’ after a 10-year contract that doesn’t match inflation, leaving workers further behind. This is exploitation, not bargaining.”
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