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OTTAWA — The Canadian Union of Postal Workers is crowing about a legal victory stemming from its labour dispute in 2011 that ended with government legislation.

The union says an Ontario court has ruled the former federal Conservative government violated its members’ constitutional rights by using legislation to block them from striking.

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The union says the court also found the legislation violated the right to freedom of association.

The government acted to get the mail moving again after Canada Post locked out its workforce in response to rotating strikes.

The two sides are currently bargaining for a new contract and the union is using the court ruling to fire a shot across the bow.

CUPW president Mike Palecek says the decision shows that post office management can’t ignore union demands at the bargaining table and expect to be bailed out by the government.

“This time, they won’t be able to count on the government to make it easy for them,” Palecek said in a statement released Thursday.