Alberta limits debate on bill that would strip bargaining rights from workers
Posted Jun 19, 2019 6:31 am.
Last Updated Jun 19, 2019 6:32 am.
EDMONTON – The Alberta government is limiting debate on contentious legislation that would strip away some bargaining rights from 180-thousand public sector workers.
Government House Leader Jason Nixon says there will be no more than nine hours of debate allowed for the last three stages of debate on Bill 9 in the legislature.
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The bill would take away the right for workers to have wage talks and binding arbitration completed between now and the fall.
Union leaders and the Opposition NDP call the bill a gross violation of the rule of law.
The UCP’s Bad Faith Bargaining Bill gives them new powers to rollback the wages of nurses, teachers, paramedics and frontline workers across Alberta. Worse—they’re doing it in the dead of night with almost no debate. It’s not fair. @abndpcaucus will keep #fightingforyou #ableg pic.twitter.com/Ze3PmbTK6G
— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) June 19, 2019
Premier Jason Kenney says the government isn’t taking away the right to arbitration but wants time to gather more information on the province’s finances before it sits down to bargain with unions.
The workers affected include nurses, social workers, hospital support staff, prison guards, conservation officers and Alberta Sheriffs.
