Features Labour Relations
Unifor says anti-scab law will boost worker power in Manitoba amid reports of impending legislation

Unifor said it “enthusiastically” supports a reported intention by the new Manitoba NDP government to introduce anti-scab legislation and single-step union certification.

“This is an important move to help strengthen collective bargaining and workers’ rights in the province of Manitoba,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Scab labour undermines the whole collective bargaining process, creates the potential for increased hostility and confrontation on picket lines, and prolongs labour disputes.”

Manitoba would become the third provincial jurisdiction to ban scabs, including British Columbia and Quebec. The federal government has also introduced legislation to ban replacement workers in federally regulated sectors.

“Wealthy business owners will resist any pro-worker change to labour law, but these changes help workers. Our priority is making sure that Manitobans have good jobs with fair wages. Access to unionization and balanced collective bargaining is the best way to improve your rights at work,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director.

Single-step union certification helps streamline the process for workers to form a union and is already in place in Quebec and British Columbia. Manitoba had single-step certification until former conservative premier Brian Pallister took it away in 2016, Unifor said in a press release.