Federal legislation paving the way to a brighter future for workers

On February 27, 2024, anti-scab legislation (Bill C-58) passed its second reading in the House of Commons. This legislation will make it illegal for employers to use replacement scab workers to do the work of unionized employees in federally regulated industries during strikes and lockouts. The Bill also includes fines of up to $100,000 per day for employers who violate the law.

Allowing scab workers remains a major barrier to improving workers’ rights in Ontario and in most provinces: only Québec and British Columbia have anti-scab legislation at the provincial level.

Scab labour undermines the collective bargaining rights of workers who are at the point of strike or lockout and who are already clearly fighting for a fair agreement. Bill C-58 is a step in the right direction toward building better labour laws that respect workers and their contributions in this country, but we still have a long way to go in Ontario.

On February 28, Bill C-64, the Pharmacare Act, finally put the first phase of a national universal pharmacare plan into action. This marks the largest expansion of Canada’s public healthcare system in decades.

As the cost of medications rises and with many companies not willing to provide health benefits, especially to part-time and temporary workers, this legislation is a vital step to improving the lives of many. This first phase includes coverage for contraceptives and diabetes medications and supplies, which will help millions by improving reproductive autonomy and reducing the risk of health complications from untreated diabetes.

Too many of our inadequate labour laws have working people deciding between extremes and, too often, making those decisions out of desperation. Do I cross a picket line to earn a paycheque? Or respect the picket line and lose out on potential income? Do I take my medication as prescribed or space it out to make it more affordable?

These “choices” are a direct result of government policies that have failed working people.

And a direct result of those failures is that people suffer. Workers’ rights suffer. Our healthcare and other social support systems inevitably – and predictably – suffer. All because of issues that could have been prevented with even the slightest bit of foresight and care for people.

And we know these changes don’t happen without consistent pressure and hard-fought activism. Your Union will continue to push all levels of government to recognize and respect the contributions and lives of working people.

I want to end my message by telling you how proud I am to be your new President. I am honoured to be among the first women to lead a Local Union of this size and I take this responsibility seriously. I am fully committed to continuing the work of building inclusivity, growing our Local Union through organizing, negotiating the best collective agreements, and supporting and defending our members' rights.

Thank you to the Executive Board for your confidence and your continued guidance. And thank you to all of our members for your ongoing support throughout the years.

In Solidarity, Kelly Tosato president@ufcw175.com