Bank of Canada governor defends use of replacement workers during strike

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem is defending the central bank’s decision to use replacement workers during a strike by security officers in Ottawa and Montreal. The Canada Industrial Relations Board has ruled twice that the bank contravened the Canada Labour Code by relying on outside contractors and some union members while the strike was underway. Macklem said the bank complied with both rulings and argued it acted to maintain security for staff, facilities and assets. The dispute began in June after security officers walked off the job when negotiations failed to produce a new collective agreement. The Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Canadian Labour Congress have called on the bank to stop using replacement workers and return to bargaining. The case comes after federal antireplacementworker rules took effect last year.