On the same day that Bill 37 passed in Nova Scotia, Atlantic Regional Director Lana Payne addressed the delegates assembled at the Atlantic Regional Council and emphasized the importance of taking action to fight for rights in the workplace.
“Sisters and brothers, this bill is a reminder to all of us how very fragile workers’ rights are,” said Lana Payne, Atlantic Regional Director at Unifor in her address to the delegates.
She continued by emphasizing the importance of the Rights at Work campaign and that the motivation behind it is not just about wages, but also about greater economic justice, safer workplaces, and about changing the possibilities for our members and all Canadians.
“We have to be very clear to any government: you take these actions at your own peril,” Payne said. “They may be able to – for now – legislate away our rights, but they cannot take away our anger, our determination or our solidarity.”
Payne reflected on the formation of Unifor and that the union was born to change the politics of the country. We start taking back our country, she said, one act at a time.