Premier Jim Prentice announced Thursday that the provincial government would repeal Bill 45.
Prentice made the announcement at a press conference held Thursday at Government House, following a meeting with public sector union leaders.
According to a press release, Prentice notified union leaders about plans for the piece of legislation during the meeting.
The Public Sector Services Continuation Act, Bill 45, contained illegal strike provisions, including increased penalties for illegal public sector strikes.
The bill was met with protests from workers and the opposition, but it was passed in December 2013, although it was never proclaimed or put into force.
“We saw Bill 45 as an obstacle to being able to move forward,” AUPE President Guy Smith said. “That obstacle has been removed.”
Prentice said the provincial government was not behind the legislation.
“I don’t support the legislation, the government doesn’t support the legislation, the unions don’t support the legislation, and it needed to be repealed,” Prentice said.
The premier had a warning for unions that wages in the public sector are likely to take a hit, as the province faces a projected $7 billion shortfall in the next fiscal year due to tanking oil prices.
However, Prentice said rollbacks won’t be forced on existing contracts.
“I’m hopeful, I’m very hopeful, based on today’s meeting, that as we work together we can find some of those solutions,” Prentice said. “I would not suggest to anybody that there will not be some difficult days ahead. I’m sure there will be.”
“Having that peace of mind for our members I think is important,” Smith said. “We know that negotiations moving forward are going to be challenging, it always is.
“But what I think I got out of the session is that there is a real commitment for that dialogue.”
Bill 45 is expected to be repealed in the spring session.
With files from Bill Fortier
