The Manitoba NDP government under Premier Gary Doer has introduced a bill to amend the province’s labour legislation. The Bill repeals the worst aspects of the previous Tory government’s labour law and takes some important initial steps forward in the interests of working people.

Business lobby groups, led by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, are actively opposing the bill, but the government and the Manitoba Federation of Labour (MFL) are standing firm. The bill is expected to pass into law by fall.

The government defends the bill by pointing out that it corrects an imbalance created by the Filmon Tories, who radically overhauled Manitoba’s labour law in 1996 to favour employers.

"The bill restores balance in Manitoba’s labour relations climate," says Labour Minister Becky Barrett.

The MFL agrees with that sentiment. In a brief to the government commenting on the proposed labour Bill, the MFL said: "The pendulum swung too far to the right under the previous government."

The bill repeals sections of the existing Labour Code that required unions to file audited statements and which forced unions to seek individual consent from every member to use union funds for political purposes. The bill also eliminates the power of an employer to force a last-offer vote before a strike.

More importantly, the bill makes major strides in protecting the rights of workers to organize. The bill allows for automatic certification if the union signs up 65% of workers in a workplace. The Labour Board is also now empowered to issue "interim certification" in cases where the rights of workers to bargain collectively have been deliberately ignored and undermined by hostile employers.

During a strike or lockout, the Bill gives employees the power to apply to resolve the dispute through the Labour Board or an arbitrator. Arbitration will not be permitted if employees do not agree.

Finally, the bill sets up an expedited grievance and mediation procedure to ensure grievances are heard more quickly than now.

Labour leaders in Manitoba see the bill as a solid first step. They are hopeful that in future years the Doer government will introduce more amendments – in particular amendments that would prohibit the use of replacement workers during strikes.

"The new Labour Relations Bill in Manitoba is more proof that working people need to elect governments that will stand up for working families," says AFL President Audrey Cormack. "Alberta needs a strong New Democrat party to repeal Alberta’s draconian labour laws."