OTTAWA, ONTARIO, June 27, 2008-On June 20, 2008, the Canadian National Administration Office (NAO), established under the North American Agreement on Labour Cooperation (NAALC), accepted to review Public Communication CAN 2008 1 on labour law matters in the state of North Carolina, United States of America.
The public communication process under the NAALC allows citizens to voice their concerns to governments about labour law matters arising in the territory of another party, and provides a formal channel for governments to review these concerns. Canada will review the CAN 2008-1 submission in accordance with procedures established under the Canadian Guidelines for Filing Public Communications.
Public Communication CAN 2008-1 was submitted to the Canadian NAO by the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America and the Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers (CALL), along with more than 40 other labour organizations in Canada, the United States and Mexico. Public Communication CAN 2008-1 alleges that the United States has failed to meet its obligations under the Agreement because legislation in North Carolina denies public sector employees the right to engage in collective bargaining. The submission also raises issues related to the following NAALC labour principles: freedom of association and protection of the right to organize; elimination of employment discrimination; minimum employment standards; equal pay for women and men; prevention of occupational injuries and illnesses; and compensation in cases of occupational injuries and illnesses.
The Canadian NAO has 120 days to examine the public communication and release a public report. The Office is established within the Labour Program of Human Resources and Social Development Canada. This is the sixth public communication that has been submitted to Canada for its consideration.
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