General Committee of Adjustment CP West
Public Statement – Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) on CUPE’s Defiance of the CIRB Return-to-Work Order
The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) stands in
solidarity with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the
Air Canada flight attendants in their fight for fair treatment and
dignity at work.
The recent order from the Canada Industrial Relations Board
(CIRB) compelling CUPE members to return to work undermines the
fundamental right of workers to withdraw their labour in pursuit of just
wages and conditions. The decision to continue job action, even in the
face of this directive, is a courageous affirmation of the principle
that workers—not corporations or government institutions—must have the
final say in defending their livelihoods.
TCRC has experienced firsthand the erosion of free collective
bargaining in Canada, with governments and regulatory bodies too often
intervening on the side of employers. CUPE’s defiance shines a necessary
light on this troubling trend. No democratic society should treat the
collective voice of its workers as an inconvenience to be legislated
away.
We call on the federal government to respect the rights of
unionized workers across all sectors, and to end the reliance on
back-to-work orders and imposed arbitration that strip unions of their
bargaining power. True resolution can only come through meaningful
negotiations at the table—not through legal coercion.
The TCRC launched its legal challenge against section 107 of the Canada Labour Code last year, arguing that provisions enabling forced return-to-work orders violate the constitutional freedoms of unionized employees. Significantly, CUPE has requested to intervene and lend their expertise and advocacy to strengthen the case and underscore its broader impact on all workers subjected to compulsory arbitration and government intervention. We will continue to work with all federally regulated Unions in this fight, an update on our progress is available at https://www.tcrccalgary.ca/Section_107_Challenges_Update.html
The TCRC extends its full support to CUPE members in their
struggle and reaffirms our commitment to standing shoulder to shoulder
with all workers facing unjust attacks on their rights.
In solidarity,
Teamsters Canada Rail Conference