The following op-ed by PSAC National President Sharon DeSousa was published by The Hill Times on September 1, 2025.

Labour Day isn’t just a holiday – it’s a call to action. A rallying cry to remind workers everywhere that the rights we often take for granted weren’t handed out on a silver platter. They were hard-fought victories by workers uniting, refusing to back down. 

From parental leave and health and safety protections to pensions, paid sick days, fair wages and Employment Insurance – if you or anyone you love has ever relied on any of these, you can thank the labour movement. And then get ready to defend it – because the fight is far from over. 

For decades, workers have organized, marched, and walked picket lines to make life better –not just for themselves, but for everyone. These victories didn’t just raise wages or improve working conditions. They changed lives. They built futures. They advanced equity for women, gender-diverse people, Indigenous workers, people with disabilities, and members of equity-seeking communities. 

At the heart of these wins? Free and fair collective bargaining. The right to negotiate. The fundamental right of workers to strike. These are cornerstones of a functioning democracy. 

But today, that foundation is cracking. 

Governments across the country have consistently trampled on these rights and undermined fair bargaining; from Doug Ford’s use of the notwithstanding clause in Ontario to the Carney government leaning on Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to halt the Air Canada flight attendant strike this summer.  

Never heard of it? You’re not alone. But make no mistake, Section 107 is a problem. 

It gives the federal government the power to force workers back to work in the middle of a legal strike. It strips workers of their leverage at the bargaining table. It bails out employers who never intended to treat workers fairly. And it tells every worker in this country: “You don’t really have power. Not when we say so.”

The government wielded Section 107 against CUPE flight attendants who were fighting for basic fairness, fair wages and better working conditions. Despite this attempt to shut them down, those workers stood strong and negotiated a new agreement that will set a new bar for the entire aviation industry.

Last year, postal workers faced the same tactic. Forced back to work. Disrespected. Undervalued. But they haven’t stopped fighting—and they won’t stop until they get the deal they deserve.

Let’s be clear: the only path to lasting, fair collective agreements is through the bargaining table. It’s impossible to have fair negotiations when employers can count on government interference to let them off the hook.

When employers know they have the government on their side to bail them out, they stop negotiating in good faith. They don’t need to listen. They don’t need to compromise. And that’s not just bad for workers—it’s bad for everyone who relies on the services they provide.

Strikes aren’t the first course of action, but when employers won’t play fair, they’re sometimes the only way to win respect.

Members of Parliament will soon return to Ottawa. PSAC and other unions across Canada will be there to send a clear message to every one of them: Section 107 must go.

The future holds even greater victories for workers—and together, we won’t let anything stand in our way.