Leaders of the nation’s labour federations yesterday warned the Prime Minister not to invoke any emergency legislation to end a British Columbia port strike now in its 12th day. Cabinet enforced a back-to-work order to end an earlier strike at the Port of Montréal after five days.

“Legislation would be a serious misstep and would be met with strong resistance from the entire labour movement,” said the petition jointly signed by Canadian Labour Congress President Bea Bruske and her provincial and territorial counterparts. Back-to-work legislation “tramples on every Canadians’ Charter right to freedom of association,” the petition added.

“The union is still at the table and remains committed to the federal mediation process, ready to get a deal done,” said the petition. “We urge your government to allow the parties to finish bargaining the outstanding issues in good faith.”