The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) filed a legal challenge against Alberta legislation they say is designed to tie unions in red tape and limit their freedom to exist. .CUPE also launched an attack ad on the Smith government.."With Danielle Smith, hurt is on the way. Alberta needs to fire the UCP," CUPE Alberta said on Twitter..CUPE Alberta President Rory Gill, one of the plaintiffs in the case, says changes to labour laws passed by the United Conservative Party were "a kind of low-level union busting you might see in the southern US or a Central American dictatorship.".Specifically, CUPE is challenging the provisions of Bill 32, Restoring Balance in Alberta’s Workplaces Act, (2020)..The bill mandates that unions operating in Alberta must:.Classify all spending as being ‘core’ or ‘non-core’ activities,Collect written consent from all dues-payers on an annual basis to deduct dues for all ‘non-core’ activities, andInstruct employers to not collect the portion of dues allocated for ‘non-core’ activities for any dues payers who have not provided consent to pay..“The UCP want unions to spend all our time collecting signatures from every dues payer,” said Gill..“Time spent in this exercise is time not bargaining better wages and working conditions, and time not defending members. And in the UCP’s eyes, that’s a good thing.”.Gill said CUPE and other unions operate in a fully democratic manner and pointed out the government doesn’t practice what it preaches..“I’d like to not pay taxes for the so-called war room, or the $7 billion wasted on the failed Keystone pipeline, but the UCP doesn’t give anyone the option to opt out of those projects," Gill said..CUPE’s Statement of Claim, filed at the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta, charges the legislation contains restrictions on the freedom of association and freedom of speech of CUPE and other unions..Gill said the legislation is an attempt to stop CUPE from taking public positions on Alberta issues like health care, education funding, or job creation..“Every CUPE local has monthly meetings that any member can attend and ask questions, move motions, and vote on the spending and actions and positions of their union," Gill said.."We are very democratic. But the UCP doesn’t like the political direction CUPE has been given by our members in open votes. So they are trying to use legislation to shut us up.”.CUPE’s submissions note there are no similar restrictions on union activities in any other province or the federal sector..“This law blatantly tries to gag expression, it’s an attempt to stop workers from democratically governing themselves. It’s unconstitutional and we intend to prove that in court," Gill said..This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) filed a legal challenge against Alberta legislation they say is designed to tie unions in red tape and limit their freedom to exist. .CUPE also launched an attack ad on the Smith government.."With Danielle Smith, hurt is on the way. Alberta needs to fire the UCP," CUPE Alberta said on Twitter..CUPE Alberta President Rory Gill, one of the plaintiffs in the case, says changes to labour laws passed by the United Conservative Party were "a kind of low-level union busting you might see in the southern US or a Central American dictatorship.".Specifically, CUPE is challenging the provisions of Bill 32, Restoring Balance in Alberta’s Workplaces Act, (2020)..The bill mandates that unions operating in Alberta must:.Classify all spending as being ‘core’ or ‘non-core’ activities,Collect written consent from all dues-payers on an annual basis to deduct dues for all ‘non-core’ activities, andInstruct employers to not collect the portion of dues allocated for ‘non-core’ activities for any dues payers who have not provided consent to pay..“The UCP want unions to spend all our time collecting signatures from every dues payer,” said Gill..“Time spent in this exercise is time not bargaining better wages and working conditions, and time not defending members. And in the UCP’s eyes, that’s a good thing.”.Gill said CUPE and other unions operate in a fully democratic manner and pointed out the government doesn’t practice what it preaches..“I’d like to not pay taxes for the so-called war room, or the $7 billion wasted on the failed Keystone pipeline, but the UCP doesn’t give anyone the option to opt out of those projects," Gill said..CUPE’s Statement of Claim, filed at the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta, charges the legislation contains restrictions on the freedom of association and freedom of speech of CUPE and other unions..Gill said the legislation is an attempt to stop CUPE from taking public positions on Alberta issues like health care, education funding, or job creation..“Every CUPE local has monthly meetings that any member can attend and ask questions, move motions, and vote on the spending and actions and positions of their union," Gill said.."We are very democratic. But the UCP doesn’t like the political direction CUPE has been given by our members in open votes. So they are trying to use legislation to shut us up.”.CUPE’s submissions note there are no similar restrictions on union activities in any other province or the federal sector..“This law blatantly tries to gag expression, it’s an attempt to stop workers from democratically governing themselves. It’s unconstitutional and we intend to prove that in court," Gill said..This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.
