An ad campaign responds to the recent series of attack ads launched by the so-called “Albertans for Change” coalition of labour unions headed up by leaders of the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) and the Alberta Building Trades Council (ABTC).

The Ontario Superior Court has declined to enforce fines imposed by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) on "scabs" who crossed picket lines during a 2004 federal public service strike.

Unions have tried many different ways to enforce solidarity on members who refuse to toe the line. But a decision by Ontario Superior Court Judge Robert Smith has closed the door, pending appeal, on one of them.

The Canadian LabourWatch Association welcomes yesterday’s decision to protect union members who exercise their legal right to work during a strike. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice rejected attempts by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) to collect fines in court from union members who chose to cross picket lines.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada cannot force its members to pay hefty fines for choosing to go to work and get paid while their colleagues are on strike, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice has ruled.

In a significant decision limiting the rights of trade unions, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice has ruled that the courts will not enforce financial penalties levied by trade unions against members who choose to cross a picket line during a legal work stoppage. The ruling in Birch and Luberti v. Union of Taxation Employees Local 70030 will make it more difficult for trade unions to use the threat of fines and other penalties to enforce picket line solidarity. It will also enhance the right of employees to decide for themselves whether they wish to participate in a work stoppage.

Södergren has successfully argued that closed shops violate the UN’s declaration of human rights and consequently helped pull the plug on the 15,000 that were in his homeland. However, in Canada, unlike most other countries, union membership as a condition of employment is still supported by collective agreements and legislation like the BC Labour Code.

Despite this being a universally declared right and a growing worldwide trend to ensure union membership is freely chosen, Canada, still allows forced union membership and the use of union dues for political purposes. Many unionized employees still face the archaic choice of joining a union or being fired.

A Swedish lawyer ventured into the heart of union country Tuesday to deliver a decidedly un-union-like message - that forced union membership is a violation of basic human rights.

Many unionized employees still face the archaic choice of join a union – or be fired.

In contrast, unionized employees in the 47-nation Council of Europe have a choice regarding union membership; and most who reject membership pay no dues at all. As of 2007, it’s also illegal for unions to use unionized non-member's dues for political activities.

To this day, many unionized Canadian workers are required to join the union that represents them or risk losing their jobs. In the midst of a worldwide trend to ensure union membership is a free choice, Canada remains one of the last Western countries to allow forced union membership and the use of union dues for political purposes.