For Immediate Release
November 3, 2011
Saskatchewan Greens say NO to ‘Right-to-Work’ Laws
Regina, Saskatchewan – Today the Green Party of Saskatchewan re-affirms its support for the working people of this province. Green Party Leader Victor Lau is very disturbed by suggestions made recently by Premier Brad Wall that he would consider introducing ‘Right-to-Work’ laws in Saskatchewan. ‘Right-to-Work’ means that union dues become voluntary, not mandatory. Several American states are ‘Right-to-Work’ states, and in all of those states, the trade union movement is non-existent.
“'Right-to-Work’ is a disgusting idea,” says Lau. “There is no way the Greens would ever stand for regressive labour legislation like that. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our trade union friends in objecting to such a horrible idea.”
The Green Party’s trade union platform for the November 7th elections includes the following planks:
-
Amend the Trade Union act to include Anti-Scab provisions,
-
Remove Legislation that Prevents the Certification of Unions when they have over 50% card recognition (Re-install instant certification of a workplace when a union can demonstrate 51% support),
-
Implement Pay Equity Legislation that is long, long overdue, and
-
Strengthen the Trade Union Act so that unionized workers have more control over their elected officials and transparency of how their union dues are spent.
More details information about the Green Party’s labour policies are available on the Green Party website at saskgreen.ca .
For more information, please contact Victor Lau at (306)737-5345.
-30-