58 hour debate ends with back-to-work bill passing
Posted Jun 26, 2011 06:58:05 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s expected back-to-work legislation to end the Canada Post labour dispute will become law later today.
The bill goes to the Conservative-dominated Senate today after being passed in the House of Commons following a marathon 58 hour debate.
The New Democrats staged a round the clock filibuster that started Thursday night and didn’t end until last night.
A brief meeting yesterday morning between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers failed to restart negotiations.
The New Democrats saw the writing on the wall and threw in the towel even though they could have tied up passage for days.
Prime Minister Harper says his government prevailed in the court of public opinion but deputy N-D-P leader Thomas Mulcair says his party has sent a shot across the Harper government’s bow on the issue of ramming through legislation.
The N-D-P says the back to work bill tramples the rights of the postal workers.
It’s unclear when the mail will start moving this week.
Canada Post says it won’t comment until the bill clears the Senate.
