Steelworkers are calling on Liberal MPs to introduce and pass anti-scab legislation now. Delegates to the National Policy Conference heard from National Director Marty Warren, Christian Chouinard (USW Local 9344) and District 6 Coordinator Anita Bryan about how the union plans to win federal anti-scab legislation to ban replacement workers in labour disputes.
Warren talked about the urgency of moving quickly to push Liberals to support anti-scab legislation without delay, because of the opportunity created by the NDP-Liberal supply-and-confidence agreement. As part of the agreement, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh secured a commitment from the Liberals to introduce anti-scab legislation before the end of the year.
Chouinard talked about how anti-scab legislation is not new – it has been in effect in Quebec since 1977, in B.C. since 1993 and briefly existed in Ontario from 1993-1995. It is also common-place in a number of industrialized countries.
Bryan led the group through how to lobby, including the asks – do it now and make it meaningful and inclusive. “A scab is a scab is a scab,” said Bryan, to a cheering room.
Federal anti-scab legislation would help approximately one million workers, including 80,000 USW members.
The session ended with nearly 60 Steelworker delegates signing up to lobby their MPs.
Take action now: send a letter to Liberal Cabinet Ministers calling on them to introduce and pass anti-scab legislation now. Next: sign up to lobby a Liberal MP – contact USW’s Legislative Representative in Ottawa gsoule@usw.ca
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