A controversial Progressive Conservative proposal to defang unions and give business greater workforce flexibility would drive down wages and undermine the middle class, the New Democrats charge.
The Tories’ new 20-page “white paper” on labour law reform recommends Ontario move in the direction of many U.S. states allowing employees to opt out of unions.
While PC Leader Tim Hudak’s scheme has been greeted enthusiastically in party circles and on many of the province’s right-wing talk-radio shows, his political opponents are leery.
“Listen, this whole thing the Conservatives are talking about is a way of trying to find a way for people to make less money per hour,” NDP House leader Gilles Bisson warned on Wednesday.
“At the end of the day a strong economy is built on people getting a decent wage. What Mr. Hudak is trying to suggest, by way of his labour reforms, would send us in a direction quite frankly (that) would hit the pocketbook of people,” said Bisson.
“I don’t think that’s what we want to be doing.”
The Timmins—James Bay MPP noted that unions have traditionally been one of the province’s social pillars and lamented Ontario emulating lower-wage “right-to-work” jurisdictions like Indiana.
“We found a balance here in Canada, and in Ontario specifically, about ensuring that there is a strong labour movement that is there to protect the health and safety of workers, to negotiate on their behalf when it comes to benefits and conditions,” said Bisson.
But Tory deputy leader Christine Elliott said “Ontario is clinging to outdated labour laws” and must follow the lead of other countries to compete.
“While Europe, Australia and New Zealand are ahead of us, the United States is working diligently to reform its labour laws,” said the Whitby—Oshawa MPP.
“Canada is the only outlier today, falling further and further behind our major trading partners.
“So my message to these labour leaders is this: We cannot afford to compound our competitive disadvantage by clinging to labour laws that date back to the last century.”
Indeed, unions have strongly opposed the plan — a reaction some Tory strategists privately welcome because they believe it could help them politically by motivating the PC base and appealing to a “silent majority” of Ontarians resentful toward the labour movement.
Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Robert Benzie
The Tories’ new 20-page “white paper” on labour law reform recommends Ontario move in the direction of many U.S. states allowing employees to opt out of unions.
While PC Leader Tim Hudak’s scheme has been greeted enthusiastically in party circles and on many of the province’s right-wing talk-radio shows, his political opponents are leery.
“Listen, this whole thing the Conservatives are talking about is a way of trying to find a way for people to make less money per hour,” NDP House leader Gilles Bisson warned on Wednesday.
“At the end of the day a strong economy is built on people getting a decent wage. What Mr. Hudak is trying to suggest, by way of his labour reforms, would send us in a direction quite frankly (that) would hit the pocketbook of people,” said Bisson.
“I don’t think that’s what we want to be doing.”
The Timmins—James Bay MPP noted that unions have traditionally been one of the province’s social pillars and lamented Ontario emulating lower-wage “right-to-work” jurisdictions like Indiana.
“We found a balance here in Canada, and in Ontario specifically, about ensuring that there is a strong labour movement that is there to protect the health and safety of workers, to negotiate on their behalf when it comes to benefits and conditions,” said Bisson.
But Tory deputy leader Christine Elliott said “Ontario is clinging to outdated labour laws” and must follow the lead of other countries to compete.
“While Europe, Australia and New Zealand are ahead of us, the United States is working diligently to reform its labour laws,” said the Whitby—Oshawa MPP.
“Canada is the only outlier today, falling further and further behind our major trading partners.
“So my message to these labour leaders is this: We cannot afford to compound our competitive disadvantage by clinging to labour laws that date back to the last century.”
Indeed, unions have strongly opposed the plan — a reaction some Tory strategists privately welcome because they believe it could help them politically by motivating the PC base and appealing to a “silent majority” of Ontarians resentful toward the labour movement.
Source: the star
Author: Robert Benzie
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