Bank of Canada Ordered Not to Use Contract Workers During Ongoing Strike

For the second time this month, the Bank of Canada has been ordered to stop using contract workers during its ongoing strike. The Canada Industrial Relations Board made the decision on July 23, after finding that the bank had contravened the Canada Labour Code by hiring contractors from Pinkerton Consulting & Investigations.

This ruling comes after a similar decision was released earlier this month, which stated that the central bank had also used contractors from Garda Canada Security Corporation and union members to replace striking security officers. The Bank of Canada has said it complied with the board's first ruling but refused to comment on its current security posture.

The strike began in June after talks failed to secure a new collective agreement between the bank and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC). In response to the latest decision, PSAC called on the Bank of Canada to abide by the ruling, stop using replacement workers, and return to the bargaining table to negotiate a fair deal.