Supreme Court will hear Sask. labour law appeal

The Supreme Court of Canada says it will hear an appeal of Saskatchewan's labour law overhaul.

The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour applied toappeal before the country'stop court after losinglower court battlesovertheprovince'sessential services law andchanges to the Trade Union Act making it potentially tougher to unionize.

The province argues the Trade Union Act changes bring more democracy in the workplace by requiring a secret ballot vote before a union canbe certified.

The government also argued the essential services lawintroduced five years agohelps protect public safety in the event of a strike. It restricts how many workers in the public sector can with draw their services.

However, the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour and numerous other unions say it infringes on rights guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, notably the freedom of association and freedom of expression.

SFL president Larry Hubich said he'd rather not take to the province to court, but he has no choice.

"On behalf of the people of the province, and on behalf of the generations of people that struggled for the rights we enjoy today, we believe it isour responsibility to challenge laws that appear to be unconstitutional, particularly when they concern peoples basic rights at work, Hubich said in a news release.

With leave to appeal granted, unions and the provincial government will make their arguments before a panel of Supreme Court judges. A court date hasn't been set yet, but court officials said the hearingcould happen nextspring.