Consultation Underway on Anti-Scab Legislation

Shared on behalf of the Canadian Labour Congress

October 19, 2022 at 11:30 a.m., Minister of Labour, Seamus O’Regan and Senator Hassan Yussuff, joined by NDP Labour Critic, Alexandre Boulerice, released a discussion paper and announced a short consultation process on promised anti-scab legislation. The consultation process will run from now until mid-December. You can read the discussion paper here (Improving the maintenance of activities under the Canada Labour Code and Prohibiting replacement workers in federally regulated industries) and the media release here.

While a commitment to anti-scab legislation in cases of both strikes and lockouts is specified in the Supply and Confidence Agreement (SACA) with the NDP, we should expect significant opposition from the employer representatives.

Trade unionists know that effective anti-scab legislation will add needed fairness and balance to the collective bargaining process. Employers and other opponents will use every tactic to create confusion and opposition to this issue. Canada’s unions must be ready to ensure that this legislation does what was committed to. The SACA commitment is a powerful tool, but this issue will test it. Canada’s unions must create the political climate to withstand the powerful opposition from those who seek to undermine fair collective bargaining, and tip the balance in favour of employers.  

In solidarity, Bea Bruske