B.C. government and its lawyers head toward unionization showdown
CTV
Lawyers working for the B.C. government are threatening to sue it over a new law that would remove their right to choose their own union.
Lawyers working for the B.C. government are threatening to sue it over a new law that would remove their right to choose their own union.
Bill 5 became law on Thursday after months of fighting between the government and the BC Government Lawyers Association, which applied last year to be recognized as an independent union representing about 300 members.
The legislation lifts a ban on unionization for the lawyers, who advise government on new laws and represent it in civil court.
But it forces them to join the Professional Employees Association, an existing union, rather than establishing a new union.
The government has argued the law is part of longstanding practices to streamline negotiations by reducing the number of unions bargaining with the government. But it's been criticized by the labour movement.
Gareth Morley, the association's president, argues the bill was unfairly used to quash their certification application to the Labour Relations Board.
He says the association intends to challenge it in court, arguing it violated their Charter rights to pursue collective bargaining.
