Unions rally as Alberta government poised to ram through two new labour bills
Tensions between the Redford government and Alberta’s biggest union ignited into open warfare Wednesday as the province pushed ahead new legislation to compel a pay settlement and impose heavy penalties for illegal strikes.
The sudden introduction of Bills 45 and 46 — along with government tactics to rush them through the house by the end of the week — prompted union members to stage a hasty protest.
Guy Smith, president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, called the legislation “draconian.”
“Yeah, they want us back at the table, but there’s a gun to our head about what’s contained in that negotiations, and if we can’t reach an agreement, they’ll force it down our throats, anyway,” Smith said.
The government defended the bills as necessary to ensure fiscal restraint and prevent disruption to public services.
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