Historic Anti-Scab Legislation comes into Law Today

On June 20th, after decades of relentless activism, organizing, and advocacy, Bill C-58 will officially ban the use of Scabs in federally regulated sectors during strikes or lockouts. Employers who violate this law will face fines of up to $100,000 per day. 

This marks a historic shift in Canadian labour law. For the first time at the federal level, employers in sectors like air, rail, road, and marine transportation, banking, postal and courier services, and, most importantly for us, telecommunications, will no longer be able to undermine collective bargaining by using scabs to do the work of unionized employees. 

While provinces like British Columbia, Quebec, and Manitoba have taken steps to restrict replacement workers, employers under federal jurisdiction have been allowed to continue exploiting divisions using scab labour, both in these provinces and throughout Canada. Bill C-58 changes that. It brings long-overdue federal protections that help restore the balance of power at the bargaining table and defends our fundamental right to free and fair collective bargaining. 

This is the result of decades of effort by activists, unionists, and generations of Steelworkers. It follows years of lobbying, mobilization, and pressure on Parliament from the labour movement. After extensive consultations with unions and employers, our voices have finally been heard. 

June 20th is not just the day a bill comes into force, it’s the day the work of so many is realised. It’s a win for every worker who has walked a picket line, every local that’s held the line, and every activist who refused to back down.

In Solidarity, 

Ross Brown

Secretary-Treasurer

USW Local 1944