Raitt suggests economy should be 'essential service'(Canada)

[CHIMO]

Source: CBC News

The government has to look at changing the labour code to include the economy as an essential service, Labour Minister Lisa Raitt said Friday — a day after Air Canada and CUPE agreed to go to binding arbitration and avoid a work stoppage.

After threatening back-to-work legislation for both Canada Post and Air Canada in June, and sending a second Air Canada dispute to the Canadian Industrial Relations Board to stop a strike, Raitt says it's clear in the government's legislation that they look to economic reasons as well as to the way the labour code defines essential services.

Asked whether she's considering redefining the code to include the economy as an essential service, Raitt says it's "a big question" she's examining with an advisory committee made up of academics and union and management representatives.



Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/10/21/raitt-air-canada-flight-attendants.html

[saras]

1. umm.. the WHOLE POINT of a strike is to disrupt the economy WITHOUT disrupting essential services

That's basically outlawing unions. Period. In one fell swoop. Incidentally it would also make boycotts illegal.