Last week the House of Commons voted unanimously to pass Bill C-58, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code, to include anti-scab legislation. Despite the long contentious history of such legislation, it passed, to much surprise.
The anti-scab legislation, which includes federally regulated companies, focuses on the use of temporary workers during a strike. The bill heads to the Senate which will be debated over the next two weeks.
Martin McIlwrath president of local 2301 in Kitimat, B.C. said the legislation is welcome news, long over due, but that unions will have to remain vigilant for companies that still try to find loopholes.
“The legislation that was passed is great news, the labour movement for decades have been waiting for this to happen,” said Martin McIlwrath from Kitimat.
