President’s Message: AMAPCEO calls on government to withdraw changes to the Canada Labour Code

Earlier this week, the federal government introduced Bill C-39, which proposes changes to the Canada Labour Code that would empower the Minister of Labour to direct the Canada Industrial Relations Board to end a job action and impose binding arbitration.

This legislation threatens one of Canadians’ most fundamental labour rights: the right to strike. AMAPCEO stands with the broader labour movement in opposing these proposed changes to the Code.

The government is claiming that these changes will “strengthen” collective bargaining and help reach settlements “earlier.” But making it easier for the government to intervene in job action and force workers to arbitration weakens one of unions’ most important sources of bargaining power: the ability to withhold labour. It strengthens employers’ positions—at the expense of workers. And a settlement reached “earlier” isn’t necessarily a fairer or more productive one. 

It adds insult to injury that these changes are packaged as part of broader legislation aimed at “strengthening the economy.” But a strong economy does not require weakened labour rights. In fact, history has taught us the opposite is true.

These proposed changes threaten Canadians’ Charter-protected right to strike, and they should not be introduced or accepted under the guise of making our economy strong. 

AMAPCEO calls on the government to listen to the concerns of organized labour and legal experts alike and withdraw this anti-worker legislation.

Stronger together,