Historic Victory! Federal Anti-Scab Legislation Passes A Milestone for Workers' Rights
After 15 years of relentless advocacy and solidarity, Bill C-58, the federal anti-scab legislation, has passed its third reading and cleared its final hurdle in the House of Commons.
This groundbreaking achievement will fundamentally change the landscape of workers' rights, prohibiting the use of scabs (replacement workers) during strikes and lockouts. This ensures that our voices cannot be undermined by the hiring of scabs, a practice that has long damaged the morale and financial stability of workers engaged in lawful industrial actions.
This victory is a direct result of putting workers' rights at the forefront of legislative efforts, supported by the NDP and the broader labour movement. USW Local 1944 in particular has been lobbying Parliament for this legislation for years, with Officers and members making multiple trips to Ottawa to speak with MPs and even testifying before a committee studying the issue. The passage of anti-scab legislation is a reminder of the power we hold when we unite and persist in our demands for justice.
The bill passed in the House of Commons unanimously, but make no mistake, this has been an NDP and labour movement initiative from the very start, and only now have we successfully dragged the other parties into doing the right thing.
The legislation will now move to the Senate for confirmation before receiving Royal Assent. Once enacted, it will align federal regulations with those already benefiting workers in Quebec and British Columbia. This is not just a legislative win; it is a monumental step towards ensuring fair and just treatment for all workers. It empowers us to stand stronger in our negotiations, secure in the knowledge that our collective action cannot be so easily weakened.
As we celebrate this victory, let us also stay vigilant and ready to ensure the full implementation of these protections in all jurisdictions. Together, we have climbed another step on the ladder towards justice and fairness—a true testament to what we can achieve when we organize and fight for what is right.
In Solidarity,
USW Local 1944
Installation of Newly Elected Union Officers
We are thrilled to announce that our newly elected Local 1944 officers were installed on May 29th at our head office in Burnaby BC, commencing their three-year terms. This momentous occasion was marked by the presence of our District 3 Director, Scott Lunny, who joined us to witness the transition of leadership within our Local.
Retiring Local Union President Donna Hokiro concluded her tenure with a final act of service by administering the oath of office to our new board members:
Full-time Table Officers
National President: Michael Phillips
National Vice President: Jennifer Turner
National Secretary Treasurer: Ross Brown
Regional Executive Officers (REOs)
British Columbia REO: Neil Marshall
Alberta REO: Richard Blais
Ontario REO: Trevor Haarsma
Quebec REO: Danis Bouffard
Trustees
Robin Navin
Corey Mandryk
Terika Peters
Local 1944 is deeply grateful to departing President Donna Hokiro and departing Vice-President Pierre-Luc Dick for their many years of service to the Local. Both leaders joined the Executive Board in 2015, and have helped guide the Local with passion and principle ever since, first as Regional Executive Officers and then as Table Officers. Thank you Sister Hokiro and Brother Dick for dedicating these years of your leadership to the betterment of other members lives.
In solidarity,
USW Local 1944
Member Resources
Please contact bc.meetingnotice@usw1944.ca for an invite if you have not received one.