Thank you. In conclusion, the right to strike is a right which is exercised not by unions or employers who have engaged in a lock-out, but first and foremost by Canadian citizens who decided to join a union so they could be represented, just as employers hire lawyers to represent them. We must never forget that these people have the right to be treated equally in our society.
Corporations tell us that they will be financially affected because it might lead to chaos in our society. I have been a full-time union representative for 35 years and I really have not seen much chaos in Canada in the last 35 years. Yes, there have been conflicts. However, what is important is not so much the unions or employers, but the fact that the citizens of this country should not be victims of discrimination when they exercise a legitimate right. That should be our starting point.
Teamsters Canada recognizes that we must not interrupt services which society has a right to expect because of a labour conflict. We cannot close hospitals because workers have the right to strike. We cannot prevent firemen from doing their job just because they have the right to strike. However, there is a difference between essential services and other services. So we must find ways to make sure that the public suffers to the least extent possible. Nevertheless, we must always keep in mind that Canadian citizens have legitimate rights. Having a level playing field during negotiations is a legitimate right for both parties. Lawmakers must indeed take this principle into consideration.
We cannot buy into the arguments of major unions or huge corporations. The banks make me laugh when they claim that they will go bankrupt tomorrow. We heard this over several years. In my opinion, they should watch out much more for Enron-type situations, rather than the unions, if they do not want to claim bankruptcy.
We want a balance to remain between all parties, and this should be stated clearly. Thank you.