OTTAWA – If all goes according to government plans, the work stoppage that has crippled the national rail system and stopped the flow of export grain will be over by mid-week.
However, opposition Bloc QuŽ-becois MPs, supported by New Democrat Bill Blaikie, vowed Monday to delay a proposed back-to-work bill as much as possible.
They stopped introduction of the legislation Monday, arguing that an imposed settlement would undermine union rights.
It meant the government had to wait until March 21 to get the bill into the House, vowing to get it through Parliament by Wednesday night. It is possible for opposition MPs to delay it a few days more, if they choose.
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The legislation is expected to order the workers back to the job immediately, with a mediator-arbitrator appointed to either find common ground or impose a settlement.
Railway freight and passenger service ground to a halt last weekend as thousands of workers at CP, CN and VIA Rail were off the job either through strike or lockout.
On Sunday night, labor minister Lucienne Robillard met with leaders from the railways and the unions, pleading with them to settle differences.
By Monday morning, she was standing in the Commons, asking that the rules be suspended to allow legislation that would get the railways running again.
“Our credibility as a supplier will be jeopardized,” she said. “I think the government has to accept its responsibility and act.”
It was the second time in a week she was making that plea.
On March 15, back-to-work legislation was approved in an emergency evening Commons sitting to end a strike by west coast longshoremen foremen. By March 17, the foremen were back on the job and the ports, briefly closed, were working again.
On Monday, agriculture minister Ralph Goodale said quick action on back-to-work legislation would allow the grain industry to avoid the cost a longer strike would bring.
In debate, Reform MPs supported back-to-work legislation and demanded the government go further by outlawing strikes in the grain movement system.
The Liberals have been unwilling to go that far. In fact, on March 20, they voted in the Commons to defeat a Reform proposal to that would have banned strikes and lockouts.
Still, there were Liberal hints the no-strike solution is being considered.
Robillard said she will appoint a board of inquiry into labor relations at west coast ports. There is pressure on the government to look at railway labor relations as well.
