Bridget Stirling

Alberta not only stripped away teachers' rights under the Charter sections to which the notwithstanding clause applies. They also revoked their rights under the Human Rights Act and the Bill of Rights. They told teachers that no human rights protections apply to them as workers. That's an appalling step for a government to take and sets a shameful precedent.

However, the most egregious part of this legislation might be Section 14, which goes even farther by banning the ability of teachers to even fight back in the courts for any reason. It goes far beyond and means that teachers would not only not be able to fight this on the basis of S.2 and 7-15 rights but also any and all constitutional or other legal grounds. This means that not only are they trying to suspend Charter rights but also any and all right to fight back in the courts against the legislation and even the collective agreement itself.

It not only strips the right to strike. It also strips the basic democratic right to have one's case heard by the law. It's a deep, deep violation of one of the most basic aspects of a free and fair society. When governments can not only take your rights away but also take away even the ability to go to court to fight back, you have no legal means left to resist.
Bridget Stirling Alberta not only stripped away teachers' rights under the Charter sections to which the notwithstanding clause applies. They also revoked their rights under the Human Rights Act and the Bill of Rights. They told teachers that no human rights protections apply to them as workers. That's an appalling step for a government to take and sets a shameful precedent. However, the most egregious part of this legislation might be Section 14, which goes even farther by banning the ability of teachers to even fight back in the courts for any reason. It goes far beyond and means that teachers would not only not be able to fight this on the basis of S.2 and 7-15 rights but also any and all constitutional or other legal grounds. This means that not only are they trying to suspend Charter rights but also any and all right to fight back in the courts against the legislation and even the collective agreement itself. It not only strips the right to strike. It also strips the basic democratic right to have one's case heard by the law. It's a deep, deep violation of one of the most basic aspects of a free and fair society. When governments can not only take your rights away but also take away even the ability to go to court to fight back, you have no legal means left to resist.
Bridget Stirling

Alberta not only stripped away teachers' rights under the Charter sections to which the notwithstanding clause applies. They also revoked their rights under the Human Rights Act and the Bill of Rights. They told teachers that no human rights protections apply to them as workers. That's an appalling step for a government to take and sets a shameful precedent.

However, the most egregious part of this legislation might be Section 14, which goes even farther by banning the ability of teachers to even fight back in the courts for any reason. It goes far beyond and means that teachers would not only not be able to fight this on the basis of S.2 and 7-15 rights but also any and all constitutional or other legal grounds. This means that not only are they trying to suspend Charter rights but also any and all right to fight back in the courts against the legislation and even the collective agreement itself.

It not only strips the right to strike. It also strips the basic democratic right to have one's case heard by the law. It's a deep, deep violation of one of the most basic aspects of a free and fair society. When governments can not only take your rights away but also take away even the ability to go to court to fight back, you have no legal means left to resist.
Bridget Stirling Alberta not only stripped away teachers' rights under the Charter sections to which the notwithstanding clause applies. They also revoked their rights under the Human Rights Act and the Bill of Rights. They told teachers that no human rights protections apply to them as workers. That's an appalling step for a government to take and sets a shameful precedent. However, the most egregious part of this legislation might be Section 14, which goes even farther by banning the ability of teachers to even fight back in the courts for any reason. It goes far beyond and means that teachers would not only not be able to fight this on the basis of S.2 and 7-15 rights but also any and all constitutional or other legal grounds. This means that not only are they trying to suspend Charter rights but also any and all right to fight back in the courts against the legislation and even the collective agreement itself. It not only strips the right to strike. It also strips the basic democratic right to have one's case heard by the law. It's a deep, deep violation of one of the most basic aspects of a free and fair society. When governments can not only take your rights away but also take away even the ability to go to court to fight back, you have no legal means left to resist.
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BREAKING: Alberta unions warn Premier Danielle Smith: unprecedented use of the Notwithstanding Clause against workers will result in an unprecedented response from unions in defence of worker rights.

At an emergency meeting held today at 5:00pm (MT), the Common Front, an umbrella group for all Alberta unions, leaders unanimously endorsed the following message to Premier Danielle Smith:

On behalf of the more than 350,000 working Albertans who we represent, we urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to rule out the use of the Notwithstanding Clause as part of your government’s approach to the teachers’ strike. Invoking the clause would be unprecedented in the history of Canadian labour relations. It would also escalate the situation from a confrontation between your government and the teachers to a confrontation between you and the entire Canadian labour movement. If governments start using the Notwithstanding Clause as a tool in their dealings with workers and unions, it will make a mockery of the constitutionally protected right to strike. Without a robust and reliable right to strike, worker bargaining power will be eroded, and with it, the wages and living standards of all Canadian workers. If you take this unprecedented approach, we will have no choice but to mobilize an unprecedented response. There are many avenues your government could pursue to negotiate with public sector unions that do not involve invoking the Notwithstanding Clause. We urge you to choose them.
BREAKING: Alberta unions warn Premier Danielle Smith: unprecedented use of the Notwithstanding Clause against workers will result in an unprecedented response from unions in defence of worker rights. At an emergency meeting held today at 5:00pm (MT), the Common Front, an umbrella group for all Alberta unions, leaders unanimously endorsed the following message to Premier Danielle Smith: On behalf of the more than 350,000 working Albertans who we represent, we urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to rule out the use of the Notwithstanding Clause as part of your government’s approach to the teachers’ strike. Invoking the clause would be unprecedented in the history of Canadian labour relations. It would also escalate the situation from a confrontation between your government and the teachers to a confrontation between you and the entire Canadian labour movement. If governments start using the Notwithstanding Clause as a tool in their dealings with workers and unions, it will make a mockery of the constitutionally protected right to strike. Without a robust and reliable right to strike, worker bargaining power will be eroded, and with it, the wages and living standards of all Canadian workers. If you take this unprecedented approach, we will have no choice but to mobilize an unprecedented response. There are many avenues your government could pursue to negotiate with public sector unions that do not involve invoking the Notwithstanding Clause. We urge you to choose them.
BREAKING: Alberta unions warn Premier Danielle Smith: unprecedented use of the Notwithstanding Clause against workers will result in an unprecedented response from unions in defence of worker rights.

At an emergency meeting held today at 5:00pm (MT), the Common Front, an umbrella group for all Alberta unions, leaders unanimously endorsed the following message to Premier Danielle Smith:

On behalf of the more than 350,000 working Albertans who we represent, we urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to rule out the use of the Notwithstanding Clause as part of your government’s approach to the teachers’ strike. Invoking the clause would be unprecedented in the history of Canadian labour relations. It would also escalate the situation from a confrontation between your government and the teachers to a confrontation between you and the entire Canadian labour movement. If governments start using the Notwithstanding Clause as a tool in their dealings with workers and unions, it will make a mockery of the constitutionally protected right to strike. Without a robust and reliable right to strike, worker bargaining power will be eroded, and with it, the wages and living standards of all Canadian workers. If you take this unprecedented approach, we will have no choice but to mobilize an unprecedented response. There are many avenues your government could pursue to negotiate with public sector unions that do not involve invoking the Notwithstanding Clause. We urge you to choose them.
BREAKING: Alberta unions warn Premier Danielle Smith: unprecedented use of the Notwithstanding Clause against workers will result in an unprecedented response from unions in defence of worker rights. At an emergency meeting held today at 5:00pm (MT), the Common Front, an umbrella group for all Alberta unions, leaders unanimously endorsed the following message to Premier Danielle Smith: On behalf of the more than 350,000 working Albertans who we represent, we urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to rule out the use of the Notwithstanding Clause as part of your government’s approach to the teachers’ strike. Invoking the clause would be unprecedented in the history of Canadian labour relations. It would also escalate the situation from a confrontation between your government and the teachers to a confrontation between you and the entire Canadian labour movement. If governments start using the Notwithstanding Clause as a tool in their dealings with workers and unions, it will make a mockery of the constitutionally protected right to strike. Without a robust and reliable right to strike, worker bargaining power will be eroded, and with it, the wages and living standards of all Canadian workers. If you take this unprecedented approach, we will have no choice but to mobilize an unprecedented response. There are many avenues your government could pursue to negotiate with public sector unions that do not involve invoking the Notwithstanding Clause. We urge you to choose them.