Victory for labour movement as anti-scab legislation moves forward

Ottawa – February 29, 2024 – Thanks to the pressure led by UFCW and labour unions across Canada, the Federal government has voted to advance Bill C-58, the Anti-Scab legislation to ban the use of replacement workers.

This bill is the result of decades of activism from the labour movement and the New Democrats. Bill C-58 will make it illegal for employers in federally regulated industries to bring in replacement workers during labour stoppages. Scabs prolong strikes and lockouts and give employers almost no incentive to reach a fair deal.

“This legislation is the result of the voices of thousands of UFCW and labour activists making their voices heard, asking our government to protection our collective bargaining rights,” says UFCW Canada National President Shawn Haggerty. “Thanks to the persistency of the labour movement, workers will have move power to fight for better wages and working conditions.”

“We have seen years of record corporate profits while workers’ pay lagged far behind. Workers are rightly demanding fairer wages, better safety standards and respect from their employers,” said Canadian Labour Congress President Bea Bruske. “By banning the use of scabs once and for all, we can take a real step towards less labour disruptions, avoiding work stoppages and building a more balanced economy—while increasing the benefits and respect workers deserve.”

We need to keep the momentum moving forward on this legislation: worker’s rights and fair collective bargaining are too crucial to delay.