NDP seeks compromise on key labour legislation
The Alberta government will try to walk a political tightrope Wednesday with legislation updating rules governing the workplace.
The government’s consultations show that many of the possible changes to the employment standards code — especially those involving job-protected leave such as sick leave and maternity — are broadly supported.
The opposition parties have been making hay of the more politically volatile labour relations code since the consultations began early this year and have warned the government against banning secret ballots for union certification, with public card checks allowed instead. Union leaders say the secret ballot process leaves workers open to intimidation from employers.
The government will try to walk that tightrope and find a solution somewhere in the middle.
“In talking to stakeholders on both sides, we were interested in looking for potential compromises, we were interested in looking for workable solutions for Alberta,” said Labour Minister Christina Gray.
The spring legislative session is scheduled to end on June 1, leaving the government just over a week to pass the legislation.
An extension of the session could give them a few more weeks, but Opposition leader Brian Jean said it’s not enough.
“We’ve seen time and time again with this government situations and examples where they won’t consult with the people,” said Jean, referencing the government’s controversial farm safety bill, passed in 2015.
The government’s consultation report could provide clues to what the legislation will look like.
Ninety per cent of employees and 79 per cent of employers support job-protected leave for parents of a critically ill or injured child at imminent risk of death.
Eighty-nine per cent of employees and 72 per cent of employers supported job protection during the one-week waiting period for maternity, parental and compassionate care EI benefits.
A major theme from the government has been a desire to bring Alberta in line with the rest of Canada and 83 per cent of employees supported syncing up Alberta’s job protection for leaves with the federal rules. Sixty-two per cent of employers agreed.
Respondents also complained that the consultation process “demands a lot more time and a lot more review ... than has been allowed,” echoing Jean’s concerns.
Jean suggested the government leave the bill open to consultations over the summer and return to it in the fall session. A similar process was followed for the recent changes to the municipal government act.
The government received nearly 5,000 completed surveys, with 848 coming from employers and 4,000 coming from employees. Nearly three-quarters of those surveys were submitted by people in the 25-54 age range.
Nearly 900 surveys came from the construction industry, 585 from professional, scientific and technical services and 429 from mining and oil and gas.
The department did not provide any consultation data on the labour relations code, but said it would be available online after the legislation was introduced.