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On behalf of Unifor Local 531, we’re proud to share news of a monumental victory for working people across the country including the 1700 members we represent. Canada has officially passed federal anti-scab legislation, marking a major step forward in the fight for fairer, stronger, and more respectful collective bargaining.
What Is a "Scab"?
The term scab is used in the labour movement to describe replacement workers. They are people who perform the duties of unionized workers during a legal strike or lockout. Scabs may be internal employees from non-unionized groups or hired externally to weaken the impact of job action. Scabs undermine workers' power, prolong disputes, and give employers little incentive to bargain in good faith.
Why This Legislation Matters
For decades, unions have fought for federal protections that ban the use of scabs. With this new law in place, federally regulated employers can no longer bring in replacement workers during a strike or lockout. This includes internal employees from non-unionized departments and outsourced third-party contractors. This is a massive win. It rebalances power at the bargaining table, ensures strikes carry meaningful consequences, and prevents employers from weakening the impact of our collective voice.
The Timing Couldn't Be Better
As we approach the 2026 round of bargaining, this legislation couldn’t come at a more critical time.
You may remember that during the 2022 bargaining period, the company actively solicited employees from non-unionized groups, including Campus employees, our non unionized counterparts in YEG, and outsourced bases (the jobs we used to hold as WestJet employees) to cross our picket line and perform the work of our bargaining unit in the event of a strike. This tactic aimed to undermine our strength and reduce the pressure to reach a fair agreement.
Next time? They won’t be allowed to do that.
This legislation makes it clear: if we choose to exercise our legal right to strike, the employer cannot use scabs to do our jobs. That puts meaningful pressure on the company to bargain in good faith, respect our work, and deliver a deal that reflects our value.
What This Means for Us
- Stronger leverage in bargaining.
- Greater solidarity—our power as union members won’t be diluted by replacement labour.
- A more balanced relationship between workers and employers at the table.
- A message to all workers across Canada: your rights are worth protecting.
Read Unifor Nationals news release by clicking on this link.