January 25, 2006

Media Release - Nova Scotia Federation of Labour, CLC

Labour Federation questions School Board push for replacement workers

Halifax, N.S. - Nova Scotia Federation of Labour President Rick Clarke has written the president of the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board expressing dismay and disappointment with the Board’s call for the use of replacement drivers to replace 60 striking members of Local 6551 of the United Steelworkers of America (USWA).

“We fully support the position of USWA Local 6551 and we cannot believe why the School Board would promote a measure that puts them in the centre of the dispute,” he added.

In trying to push their proposal forward, the Board has stated that this matter between the employer and the School Board is now destined to go to arbitration for final resolve, which will be costly for both parties.

“We are asking, would the money not be better spent at the bargaining table finding a resolve?

“If the Board feels that strongly that Laidlaw is violation of their contract with them, then perhaps the issue they should be looking at is dissolving the contract and providing the bus service themselves by employing the bus drivers directly as other school board regions do.

“This is yet another clear example of why we so desperately need anti-scab legislation and protection in Nova Scotia,” said Clarke in conclusion.

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For more information, please contact Rick Clarke at: 902.454.6735 (office) or 902.434.5612 (home)