Legislation Will Give Employers and Employees the Freedom to Choose
The Government of Saskatchewan has introduced amendments to The Construction Industry Labour Relations Act, 1992 (CILRA) that will expand freedom of choice for workers and employers and help sustain Saskatchewan's economic momentum.Under the current version of the CILRA, companies are required to belong to a representative employers' organization (REO), which bargains on their behalf. The legislation designates unions to represent workers in particular trades. The legislation prohibits a single employer or union from negotiating a separate collective agreement, with all bargaining taking place between REOs and unions designated by the government.The restrictive nature of the legislation has prevented some unions and discouraged some companies from participating in Saskatchewan's construction industry.The amendments to the CILRA will:
Allow a trade union to organize a company on a multi-trade, or "all employee" basis, as well as on a craft, or single trade basis;
Enable any trade union to certify an employer;
Allow employers to choose the REO that will represent them;
Allow an employer operating outside an REO to negotiate a collective agreement for the duration of a specific project;
Give the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board the authority to investigate complaints that a union has abandoned its bargaining rights;
Give the Labour Relations Board the right to revoke a union's certification on the basis of an abandonment claim; and
Change the definition of "construction industry" to remove the reference to "maintaining" a building or structure.
The government is soliciting feedback on the legislation from stakeholders and members of the public during the summer. Feedback on the legislation can be provided by email to: labourlegislationaeel@gov.sk.ca or in writing to:
Deputy Minister Clare Isman
Advanced Education, Employment and Labour
11th Floor, 1945 Hamilton Street
REGINA SK S4P 2C8
.jpg)
