What is Bill C-39?
Bill C-39 is an omnibus bill that includes proposed changes to Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code. If passed, Bill C-39 would give the Minister of Labour the power to end a legal strike and impose a binding dispute resolution. In the event of a strike, the Minister would have to first consider a report from a special mediator and, upon consideration, would be fully empowered to end a strike if deemed a threat to the national interest.
A legal analysis commissioned by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) determined that, if passed, Bill C-39 would give the Canadian government “broader unilateral power to end a legal strike than exists in any other G7 country.”
The Right to Strike
Since 2024, the Liberal government has used Section 107 with increasing regularity, invoking it at least eight times over the past two years. With C-39, the government is now seeking to secure unprecedented power for terminating lawful strikes.
The government is continuing to attack workers and chip away at the right to strike. If an employer believes government is likely to end a potential strike, what incentive do they have to make changes in the workplace? If passed, Bill C-39 will not only affect the right to strike but collective bargaining more broadly.
The right to strike is essential to workers’ rights. It is our last line of defence when many attempts at negotiations have broken down and when the employer refuses to provide safe and healthy working conditions.
Take Action
Starting Friday October 2, workers are taking to the streets to protect the right to strike and demand the removal of section 107 from Bill C-39. The CLC is hosting three rallies outside of local MP offices in Toronto, Thunder Bay and Hamilton to demand an end to the proposed restrictions on our right to strike. If you work or live in these areas, we urge you to attend your local rally. Additionally, the CLC has created a list of key contacts for us to email and call as we continue to exert pressure.
