Hello Members,
After 15 years of relentless advocacy and solidarity, Bill C-58, the federal anti-scab legislation, has passed its third reading and cleared its final hurdle in the House of Commons.
This groundbreaking achievement will fundamentally change the landscape of workers' rights, prohibiting the use of scabs (replacement workers) during strikes and lockouts. This ensures that our voices cannot be undermined by the hiring of scabs, a practice that has long damaged the morale and financial stability of workers engaged in lawful industrial actions.
This victory is a direct result of putting workers' rights at the forefront of legislative efforts, supported by the NDP and the broader labour movement. USW Local 1944 in particular has been lobbying Parliament for this legislation for years, with Officers and members making multiple trips to Ottawa to speak with MPs and even testifying before a committee studying the issue. The passage of anti-scab legislation is a reminder of the power we hold when we unite and persist in our demands for justice.
The bill passed in the House of Commons unanimously, but make no mistake, this has been an NDP and labour movement initiative from the very start, and only now have we successfully dragged the other parties into doing the right thing.
The legislation will now move to the Senate for confirmation before receiving Royal Assent. Once enacted, it will align federal regulations with those already benefiting workers in Quebec and British Columbia. This is not just a legislative win; it is a monumental step towards ensuring fair and just treatment for all workers. It empowers us to stand stronger in our negotiations, secure in the knowledge that our collective action cannot be so easily weakened.
As we celebrate this victory, let us also stay vigilant and ready to ensure the full implementation of these protections in all jurisdictions. Together, we have climbed another step on the ladder towards justice and fairness—a true testament to what we can achieve when we organize and fight for what is right.
In Solidarity,
USW Local 1944
