Bill C-58 makes changes to the Canada Labour Code. It focuses on strikes and lockouts in workplaces under federal jurisdiction. The bill aims to change the rules around using replacement workers during strikes and lockouts. It also changes how employers and unions must maintain certain activities during a strike or lockout to protect public safety and health.
One of the key changes is about replacement workers. The bill makes it illegal for employers to use certain workers to do the jobs of employees who are on strike or locked out. These workers include those hired after the strike notice, contractors, and employees from other workplaces. There are exceptions, such as when dealing with immediate threats to safety or the environment. The bill also says that employers cannot use employees within the bargaining unit to do work during a strike or lockout, except to maintain essential services or to protect public safety.
To make sure these rules are followed, the bill introduces penalties for employers who break them. Employers could face fines of up to $100,000 per day for using replacement workers illegally. The government can also create rules for administrative monetary penalties. The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) will have more power to deal with these issues quickly.
Finally, the bill changes the process for maintaining activities during a strike or lockout. It requires employers and unions to agree on what services or operations must continue to protect public safety and health. If they cannot agree, the CIRB will make the decision. The bill sets deadlines for the CIRB to make these decisions, to ensure things move quickly. These changes aim to make the bargaining process fairer and protect workers' rights during strikes and lockouts.
Jobs
This bill changes rules about who can work during a strike or lockout. It aims to protect jobs of striking or locked-out employees by limiting the use of replacement workers. This could potentially lead to more job security for unionized workers during labor disputes.
Crime
The bill introduces a fine of up to $100,000 per day for employers who use replacement workers illegally during a strike or lockout. This aims to deter employers from breaking the rules and ensure fair labor practices.