Bill C-372

SUMMARY

This enactment amends the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act to ensure that staff of members of the Senate and the House of Commons, who serve them in their capacity as Member of Parliament, Leader, House Leader or Whip, will not be prevented from being included in a bargaining unit. The enactment covers caucus staff, parliamentary committee staff, and staff in a minister’s office who are hired under that Act, but not staff in a minister’s office who are hired under the Public Service Employment Act.

The enactment also prohibits lockouts by employers of their employees and imposes fines on those causing lockouts, thereby bringing consistency to the provisions respecting strikes and lockouts.