The latter had the right to strike forced upon them in 2003 by the Charest government as a way to avoid binding arbitration. It culminated in strike action by almost 1,500 Quebec government lawyers in February 2011. The situation broke the bond of trust between these lawyers and the government and jeopardized many serious criminal prosecutions.
On a completely practical level, how can the government save money by forcing employees to strike? I just referenced the importance of preserving the right to strike. The point is, Bill C-4 will force some of us to strike. Let's remember that when unions were first given this choice in 1967, it was meant to address the imbalance of power in the federal public sector context. Arbitration has consistently been the preferred route for the AJC and for most public sector unions. This civilized approach to labour disputes preserves services to the public and ensures federal workers and their families are treated with respect, dignity, and fairness.