Our friends at CUPE inform us that, “Members of Senate are debating Bill C-377 this week.”
They explain, “Bill C-377 claims to address the accountability and transparency of labour unions. But, as we point out in our submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee, C-377 is not about transparency or accountability. The real motivation for the bill is to silence unions and their members. This bill will require every union and every union local to file detailed financial reports that would be posted on a public website. The bill is a violation of privacy rights and a big waste of money.”
And they note, “The costs of Bill C-377 will be important not only for unions. The federal government will have to spend millions in tax-payers’ money each year to receive and process the massive volume of data generated by labour organizations. Bill C-377 also contravenes federal and provincial privacy laws which protect individuals’ most intimate personal and confidential information. The Canadian Bar Association and the Privacy Commissioner have said that this bill will invade personal privacy. And it’s estimated it will cost as much cost $20 million to implement. What’s more, the bill singles out labour organizations and does not apply to any other dues-deducting professional organizations.”
Take Action
CUPE asks that the following message be sent to the Liberal-appointed Senators and the few Conservative Senators who are working to stop C-377.
“I am writing to encourage your continued efforts to oppose Bill C-377.
While Bill C-377 claims to address the accountability and transparency of labour unions, we know the real motivation for the bill is to silence unions and their members.
The bill singles-out labour organizations and does not apply to any other dues-deducting professional organizations.
This bill demands that every union and every union local file detailed financial reports to be posted on a public website. The bill is a violation of privacy rights and a big waste of money.
The costs of Bill C-377 will be important not only for unions. The federal government will have to spend nearly $20 million in tax-payers’ money each year to receive and process the massive volume of data generated by labour organizations.
The Canadian Bar Association and Privacy Commissioner have said Bill C-377 also contravenes federal and provincial privacy laws which protect individuals’ most intimate personal and confidential information.
Thank you again for standing against this anti-union, unnecessary and un-Canadian piece of legislation.”
To send this message, simply go to http://cupe.ca/action/senate-c-377.
For more, please read:
CUPE background on C-377
CEP president Dave Coles on C-377 and C-525
UPDATE: Conservative government attacks working people
