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.

Workers have always been the driving force behind milestone achievements – maternity leave, pensions, paid sick days, fair wages, EI – we have the labour movement to thank for these. 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.

These victories not only improve wages and working conditions – they’re life-changing. These gains secure a better future for everyday people including women, gender-diverse persons, people with disabilities, Indigenous people, racialized persons and so many more.

PSAC members have been instrumental in securing these victories. It’s our collective power that keeps us strong. But our fight is far from over. When the Carney government made the misguided decision to invoke Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code in the Air Canada flight attendants’ strike, they made it blatantly clear that they are willing to trample on the fundamental right of workers to bargain freely and take strike action in a labour dispute.

As workers and activists, that’s a line that cannot be crossed.

Protect the rights of workers

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. 

And this wasn’t the first time they’ve used this provision against workers – this was the same mandate used to order striking postal workers back on the job last year.

The way CUPE flight attendants fiercely refused to comply with the government’s order should be a rallying cry for workers in every sector everywhere in Canada.

As workers, we will not back down when our fundamental rights are under attack – by employers and governments alike. Their fight should sound the death knell for Section 107 in Canada’s labour law. 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.”

Abolish Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code

That’s why PSAC is calling on all federal parties to work together to put forward legislation abolishing Section 107 from the Canada Labour Code when Parliament returns September 15 as the first order of business.

We have to fight together, across the labour movement, to send a clear message to this government and employers across the country that we will not sit back when our rights are threatened.

In solidarity, 

Sharon DeSousa, PSAC National President