Supreme Court Rules Bargaining a Right in Canada (6/13/07)

In a 6-1 ruling, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that government employers can't prevent workers from forming unions and bargaining collectively.

"The right to bargain collectively with an employer enhances human dignity...by giving them the opportunity to influence the establishment of workplace rules and thereby gain some control over a major aspect of their lives, namely their work," wrote Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin and Justice Louis LeBel.

The ruling strikes down a law in British Columbia that enabled the provincial government to contract out work to private companies. In recent years thousands of workers lost their jobs and the quality of health care and social services services declined as a result of privatization.

"This decision is a huge step forward for working families in Canada," said RWDSU Northern Joint Council President Derik McArthur. "For far too long governments have disregarded workers' rights. This ruling will force governments to respect the bargaining rights of Canadian workers.