The federal government has served notice that it intends to introduce back-to-work legislation to end the contract dispute between Canada Post and its 48,000 urban postal workers.
Labour Minister Lisa Raitt made the statement in the House of Commons during question period Wednesday.
Raitt said the government served the required 48-hour notice in the House of Commons Wednesday night, which means the legislation that would strip workers of their collective bargaining rights could be introduced in two days.
"Our Government is concerned about the effect this strike is having on Canada's economic recovery and on Canadians," Raitt said in a statement Wednesday night. "Canadians gave us a strong mandate to complete our economic recovery, and this is why we will put legislation on notice to ensure resumption and continuation of postal services."
Since the House isn't sitting Friday, the earliest the legislation can be debated is Monday.
Opposition parties railed against the decision, saying the government was using a "sledge hammer" to solve the problem instead of letting the two sides work out an agreement on their own.
NDP Leader Jack Layton called the idea of back-to-work legislation "very discouraging."
"They're attacking pensions. They're attacking the ability of workers to negotiate a decent wage," he said. "I think they were prepared to shut this process down right from the get go. I don't think the government has been serious about urging the sides to come together towards a resolution."
Labour Minister Lisa Raitt made the statement in the House of Commons during question period Wednesday.
Raitt said the government served the required 48-hour notice in the House of Commons Wednesday night, which means the legislation that would strip workers of their collective bargaining rights could be introduced in two days.
"Our Government is concerned about the effect this strike is having on Canada's economic recovery and on Canadians," Raitt said in a statement Wednesday night. "Canadians gave us a strong mandate to complete our economic recovery, and this is why we will put legislation on notice to ensure resumption and continuation of postal services."
Since the House isn't sitting Friday, the earliest the legislation can be debated is Monday.
Opposition parties railed against the decision, saying the government was using a "sledge hammer" to solve the problem instead of letting the two sides work out an agreement on their own.
NDP Leader Jack Layton called the idea of back-to-work legislation "very discouraging."
"They're attacking pensions. They're attacking the ability of workers to negotiate a decent wage," he said. "I think they were prepared to shut this process down right from the get go. I don't think the government has been serious about urging the sides to come together towards a resolution."
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