Share
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada
@email
Dear Prime Minister,
The case for anti-scab legislation in Canada
I’m writing to you on behalf of more than 315,000 Unifor members across the country, working in every major sector of the Canadian economy, to ask you to take action to help restore balance for all workers. Our union is launching a public campaign to advocate for anti-scab legislation to stop employers from undermining the power of union members.
Whether they work for Delastek Inc. in Grand-Mère, Compass Minerals in Goderich, D-J Composites in Gander, Co-op Refinery in Regina, or for Cascade Aerospace in Abbotsford, Unifor members across the country have experienced first-hand the kind of damage scabs cause in our fight to create good, stable and safe jobs for workers in Canada. In fact, the three longest labour disputes in Unifor’s history involved the use of scabs, and a review of all Unifor labour disputes shows those involving scabs lasted on average six times longer than those without scabs.
Today, Unifor is publicly releasing a report called Fairness on the line: The case for anti-scab legislation in Canada. This important document features internal data and analysis we’ve never previously publicly released, detailing the cold hard facts on the negative impact scabs have on resolving labour disputes. Simply put, the use of scabs undermines workers’ collective power, unnecessarily prolongs labour disputes, and removes the economic pressure that the withdrawal of labour is supposed to give workers to help end a dispute.
In addition, we’ve included first-hand accounts from our members, so that readers can get a better sense of how the use of scabs contributes to higher-conflict picket lines, jeopardizes workplace safety, de-stabilizes normalized labour relations between workers and their employers, and removes the employer’s incentive to negotiate and settle fair contracts.
In the coming weeks, you’ll be hearing from our members and allies about the growing support for anti-scab legislation at both the federal and provincial level. We believe the time has come to amend the Canada Labour Code so as to:
- Prohibit employers from using scabs for the duration of any legal strike or lockout, specifically banning the use of any employee or contracted workers to perform the duties of a bargaining unit employee;
- Prohibit employers from using both external scabs (those hired specifically to replace striking or locked out bargaining unit members), as well as internal scabs (new hires, members of the bargaining unit who might otherwise cross the picket line, or any other employees at any of the employer’s establishments, including managers);
- Include significant financial penalties for employers who defy the anti-scab legislation; and,
- Allow for the very limited use of temporary workers, only to undertake essential maintenance work to protect the integrity and safety of the workplace, but not to contribute to the ongoing, normal operation of the workplace.
Many Unifor members who have experienced first-hand the kind of damage scabs bring to a workplace spoke out in this new video.
We trust you will watch it and take the time to read Fairness on the line, and we are excited to work together to enact legislation that will lead to fewer and shorter labour disputes, and make it easier for employers and union members to settle fair agreements and get back to the business of rebuilding our economy.
Sincerely,
Jerry Dias
National President, Unifor
CC. All Liberal Party of Canada Members of Parliament
