Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Canada (Ratification: 1972)

The Committee takes note of the federal Government's report transmitting new laws as well as the responses of provincial governments to the Committee's previous direct request.

Article 2 of the Convention: The right of workers and employers to establish and join organizations of their own choosing without previous authorization

Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Ontario

While acknowledging the information supplied by the governments in reference to its previous comments, the Committee asks the governments of these provinces to delete from their legislation the names of individual unions.

Article 3: The right of workers' organizations to formulate their programmes without interference from the public authorities

Federal Government

The Committee takes note of the Government's provision of the British Columbia Grain Handling Operations Act and the Thunder Bay Grain Handling Operations Act, which terminated legal strikes by grain handlers, and the Postal Services Continuation Act, 1991, which terminated a legal strike by postal workers.

The Committee notes that the legislation affecting the British Columbia workers was scheduled to expire on 31 December 1992; the legislation affecting the Thunder Bay workers expires between 31 January 1993 and 31 January 1994, depending on a decision by the mediator-arbitrator; and the legislation affecting the postal workers expires on 31 July 1993. The Committee trusts that the right to strike and to bargain collectively will be restored upon the expiration of this legislation. The Committee would request the Government in the future to avoid resorting to legislative intervention in industrial disputes in non-essential services, particularly where the extent and duration of the strikes have not resulted in an acute national crisis.