Law to Ban Companies from Hiring Replacement Workers During Strikes

This proposed law wants to change how strikes and lockouts work in Canada. Right now, companies can sometimes hire temporary workers to keep things running when employees are on strike or locked out. This proposed law would stop companies from doing that. These temporary workers are often called "replacement workers" or "scabs." This change would affect all workers and companies covered by the Canada Labour Code. This includes industries like airlines, banks, railways, and telecommunications. If the proposed law passes, companies in these sectors would not be allowed to hire replacement workers during a strike or lockout. This would likely give unions more power when negotiating with employers. This matters because it could shift the balance of power in labor disputes. Unions argue that replacement workers weaken strikes and make it harder to reach a fair agreement. Businesses argue that they need replacement workers to keep operating and serving the public. This proposed law could lead to shorter strikes and lockouts, or it could lead to more difficult negotiations between companies and their employees.

This bill has not yet been published on the government website.