Union steps up its strike against labour umbrella group

Irony ‘does not escape us’ as employees take on the Canadian Labour Congress

In what unionists are calling awkward optics, Canadian Labour Congress staff members are in their second week of picketing the CLC in a long-running dispute.

Forty-five staffers of the labour umbrella group walked off the job Oct. 15, frustrated over the lack of progress over pensions, wages and an on-the-job harassment clause.

The lone striker in Alberta is picketing an Edmonton office that, in her absence, is now empty.

The tussle between unionists is an uncomfortable paradox, said the man representing the strikers.

“It does not escape us, the irony,” said Tony Tracy, president of the

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Local Lodge 3111 CULR.

“It’s about fairness and dignity and respect in the workplace … We like to think we have a shared set of values and concerns.”

The workers, whose roles vary widely from union representatives to IT workers to human rights experts, have been without a collective agreement since June 30, 2017.

Half of them are located in Ottawa, the rest sprinkled throughout the provinces in offices of the CLC, the nation’s largest labour organization with 56 affiliates representing three million workers.

Talks broke off earlier this month after 14 days of bargaining in an atmosphere somewhat out of the ordinary, said Tracy.

“There are some unique aspects. You have experienced, skilled negotiators on both sides of the table,” he said.

“We’re not on strike against the labour movement, but we’re looking for fairness.”

Tracy said such labour action is hardly unprecedented, with the CLC hit with a three-week strike in 2004.

And the disagreements over mediators and the issues at hand sound much like any regular labour standoff.

Tracy said the two sides are close on wages but pensions and a dispute over how harassment complaints are investigated need more work in order to reach a three-year collective agreement.

But that agreement would only last until June 30 of next year, triggering another round of bargaining.

Both sides say the CLC has agreed to resume talks.

“We simply don’t conduct our negotiations via the media. However, the CLC has offered to go back to the table and is waiting for the union to respond when they’re ready,” said the CLC’S Mariam Abu-dib.

In a statement on its website, president Hassan Yussuff says the congress’s offers on wages and harassment policy are generous and sound but that any improvements to its pension plan “would see costs skyrocket for the CLC.”

“The CLC, as an employer has been, and still remains, prepared to settle this dispute fairly … I have tremendous respect for each and every CLC staff person and value the work they perform on behalf of workers every day.”

Said Tracy: “Hopefully, this can be settled as quickly as possible.”

Skilled negotiators on both sides of the table. We’re not on strike against the labour movement, but we’re looking for fairness.