Gélinas' anti-replacement worker bill defeated

Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas' private member's bill to ban the use of replacement workers during a strike or lock-out was defeated, after a second hearing held March 31 in the Ontario Provincial Legislature.

“I believe in creating healthy communities,” Gélinas said in the press release.

“But the use of temporary replacement workers tears the social fabric of our communities.

“In my own riding of Nickel Belt, members of USW 6500 walked the picket line for a year while Vale used temporary replacement workers. Strikes last longer when replacement workers are used and the wounds inflicted on communities can take years to heal.”

Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci said “he voted in favour of it,” while some of his colleagues didn't.

“Some NDPs didn't even show up, like Howie Hampton, for example,” he said.

“Some of the Tories voted for it, some against it—it's private members hour. The NDP leader is now saying it was a whip vote—how foolish—a whip vote is when you're told to vote one way and we all vote that way.”