While the union had repeatedly offered to return to the bargaining table the employer refused, secure in the knowledge that the government would intervene on their behalf. The workers now face the potential of heavy fines if they exercise their right to strike, while the employer is emboldened to pursue its concessionary agenda. 

Free collective bargaining and the right to strike are fundamental rights of all working people. In introducing this legislation, the government tramples the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and court rulings, including of the Supreme Court of Canada.

A vote on back-to-work legislation can be seen as a referendum on who believes in basic, fundamental workers rights. Many purport to, until those rights become an inconvenience to a powerful employer.

The MP’s who took a stand for workers rights and voted against back-to-work legislation on April 28^th in our District were:

Don Davies, Vancouver Kingsway, NDP

Jenny Kwan, Vancouver East, NDP

Jody Wilson-Raybould, Vancouver Granville, Independent

The MP’s who voted in favour of back-to-work legislation were:

Terry Beech, Burnaby North-Seymour, Liberal   

Kenny Chiu, Steveston—Richmond East, Conservative

Hedy Fry, Vancouver Centre, Liberal

Joyce Murray, Vancouver Quadra, Liberal

Harjit S. Sajjan, Vancouver South, Liberal

Patrick Weiler, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, Liberal

Jonathan Wilkinson, North Vancouver, Liberal

Alice Wong, Richmond Centre, Conservative

Don’t see your MP listed? Visit https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/votes/43/2/102 to check how they voted.

We stand in full solidarity with CUPE Local 375 and will circulate any requests for support that we receive going forward.

For more information, please see the statements by CUPE and the Canadian Labour Congress, as well as the CUPE 375 website.

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