What’s at stake for workers if the Federal Conservatives win this election?
Lower wages, unstable jobs, and weaker unions.
Download the full information sheet to post in your workplace here. (Print double-sided on 8.5 x 14 paper.)
Directly after becoming the Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC), Pierre Poilievre’s 2023 Policy Declaration launched aggressive attacks on workers’ rights by proposing US-style anti-worker legislation here in Canada.
These attacks will not be defeated by strongly worded statements, a single union or a handful of activists.
Defending our movement, our members and indeed our charter rights must be a top priority of the labour movement.
As a Federation, together with our affiliates we must organize to push back on the anti-worker plans of the Conservatives or any other political party or leader who seeks to attack workers and their unions!
The Threat: Right-to-Work (RTW) Legislation
RTW Legislation would be an Act put into place that could:
- Make all clauses in collective agreements that require workers to join a union illegal.
- Make any requirement that workers pay mandatory union dues illegal
- Limit a union’s ability to spend dues on political action, such as, delivering campaigns against laws that cap collectively bargained wages and benefits (i.e. Bill 124)
Why RTW is Anti-Worker?
- Right to Work means the Right to Work FOR LESS WAGES:
- Right to Work Laws weaken the Unions power to fight for higher wages. According to a 2023 U.S. Federal Reserve Study, RTW laws slashed annual wages by 4%, which would mean a reduction of $2,284/year for the average Canadian worker.
- Right to Work means the Right to Work FOR LESS JOB SECURITY:
- The study also found that RTW laws reduce union membership, eroding workplace protections, leading to a decline in job security.
- Right to Work means the Right to Work FOR WEAKER BENEFITS AND PROTECTIONS:
- Without the resources that union dues provide it’s harder to fight for better wages, benefits, pensions, job safety and security.
- Right to Work means the Right to Work WITH A WEAKENED VOICE:
- As we can clearly see with the Tariffs, Unions cannot address wages and working conditions in isolation from the broader political and economic factors outside the workplace. Poilievre is trying to make it illegal for union dues collected under the RAND formula to be used for political action, effectively weakening the workers’ voice.
- Workers are the union – when laws target union resources, interfere with democratic process and limit participation – workers lose. We do not see the same attacks on the bosses!
How will RTW weaken unions?
- Reduced bargaining power in negotiations with your employer
- More downward pressure on the wages and benefits of both union and non-union workers
- Increased threats to workers’ pensions
- Reduced workplace safety and union representation
- Fewer good jobs for the next generation
- Weaker defense of public services, human rights and the environment
How real is this risk?
Union-busting refers to any attempt to stop workers from organizing or joining a union to protect their rights at work, typically done by an employer however, in 2020, Alberta’s United Conservative Party (UCP) under Jason Kenny passed union busting legislation.
This law aims to weaken unions by restricting their funding. It requires them to obtain written consent each year from all dues-payers to deduct fees for any ‘non-core’ activities, such as social or political advocacy.
Fairness and Transparency? We’ve Got That Covered
- Unions operate in a fully democratic manner, with elected local representatives and national leaders, holding elections on a regular basis
- Unions already deliver full, transparent annual financial reporting in the form of Annual General Meetings
- Union priorities are based on what members vote for and care about
In short, unions are grassroots organizations led by workers, for workers. Union members or workers protected by a collective agreement should think about what a CPC government led by Pierre Poilievre would do to their paycheques. The time for action is NOW! Together, we can defeat the Conservative attack on workers, and their unions.
