Case No. 2654 against the Government of Saskatchewan

Jurisdiction: 
Saskatchewan
Year/Month: 
October 2011
Case status: 
Follow up

An Act respecting Essential Public Services (Bills 5, June 2008)

This Act provided for a definition of essential services so broad that practically any public service employee could be designated as an essential worker and therefore not eligible to exercise the right to strike. It is the most sweeping and heavy-handed essential services legislation in Canada.

An Act to amend the Trade Union Act (Bills 6, June 2008)

This Act limits the rights of Saskatchewan’s workers. It reduces the ability of working people to join unions and to engage in collective bargaining. It also leaves workers with less protection against unfair practices from employers.

Submitted by the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) (June 2008).

Both of these pieces of were found not to comply with ILO of freedom of association principles. The ILO Committee on Freedom of Association will be reviewing this case at one its upcoming sessions in order to examine the progress made by the Saskatchewan government in implementing its October 2012 recommendations.