Why Saskatchewan Needs Anti-Scab Legislation

Over 360 highways workers in Saskatchewan are currently on strike, joining many other civil service workers on the picket line in that province. Wages are a key issue, and the workers have been without a contract since September. Management is currently performing scab-labour in an effort to keep the highways clear of snow. However, a plow driven by a scab flipped over and rolled down an embankment. This has been confirmed in recent news reports.

This is not only a safety issue for those performing scab labour, but to the greater public as a whole when unskilled and essentially untrained people are running major equipment on public highways and roads. The costs associated with fixing the plow which rolled over the embankment will now be passed on to the public as well.

Workers, of course, need protection to strengthen their job security and prevent 'scum' from scabbing their jobs and stealing their livelihoods. What bugs me most is that Saskatchewn is currently governed by an NDP majority, who has thus far failed to pass anti-scab law, which exists in both British Columbia and Quebec. As a supposed left-wing party committed to helping 'working families,' one would think that legislation that protects working families and strengthens their position vis-a-vis management would be legislation that the NDP would have quickly passed after taking office.

It's not as if the NDP is new to government. The CCF governed as a majority from 1944-1964, the NDP had a majority under Allan Blakeney from 1971-1982, Roy Romanow had a majority from 1991-1999. The NDP governed in coalition from 1999-2003, and have had a majority ever since. But still, no anti-scab legislation.

This legislation has clear benefits to the working class and their families. No one should have the right to steal someone else's job. Click here to see why, and see what you can do to help.