Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): The Canada Industrial Relations Board has issued a second ruling directing the Bank of Canada to immediately cease deploying third-party contract workers during an ongoing strike by its security personnel. In a decision released by the federal labour board, the central bank was found to have violated the Canada Labour Code by engaging contractors from Pinkerton Consulting & Investigations to perform security duties at its facilities while regular staff remain on the picket line.
The ruling follows a similar finding by the board earlier in the month, which determined that the central bank breached federal labour legislation by utilizing replacement workers from Garda Canada Security Corporation alongside unionized employees during the dispute. Security officers represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada initiated strike action in June after collective bargaining negotiations over wages, scheduling, and workplace benefits collapsed without a agreement.
In response to previous administrative directives, the Bank of Canada stated in a communication that it had complied fully with the board’s rulings, declining further public comment regarding its operational security posture. Meanwhile, executive representatives from the Public Service Alliance of Canada called on central bank management to respect the board’s order, end the use of replacement labor, and return to formal negotiations to settle a collective agreement.
