Unions in Canada are facing a coordinated assault. In Québec, the CAQ is moving to make portions of union dues “optional” under the banner of transparency. What may look benign is anything but. The proposal targets the “portions” that fund legal challenges, public-interest campaigns, and criticism of politicians when they get it wrong – all of which directly impact the well-being of our members in the workplace.
That makes it much harder for unions to advocate for stronger road safety regulations for truck drivers, fight for better conditions for the lowest-paid healthcare workers, or resist labour code changes that could potentially shrink your paycheque and compromise your health and safety. It makes it almost impossible to defend your Charter-protected right to strike.
We’ve seen this reel elsewhere. In Alberta, Bill 32 forced an opt-in for any dues that might touch “political activities,” drawing an artificial line between workplace rights and the politics that shape those rights. The province’s own guidance brags that due payers can choose to opt in for anything labelled political or “social causes.” This is a deliberate attempt to starve unions of the resources needed to defend members on the shop floor and beyond.
In Ontario, the government tried blunt-force tactics. Bill 124 imposed a wage cap on hundreds of thousands of public sector workers and was found unconstitutional for violating collective bargaining rights. The Court of Appeal confirmed that reality and the province backed down. Earlier, Bill 28 invoked the notwithstanding clause to ban a legal strike by education workers, but massive public pressure forced a repeal. These are not isolated lapses. They are part of a trend to sideline free collective bargaining.
We as Canadians should remember that our highest court has recognized the right to strike as a constitutional component of meaningful bargaining. Governments that undermine dues or outlaw strikes are not restoring balance but are instead tipping the scales against working people and toward concentrated power into the hands of the corporate elite. Teamsters Canada rejects this vision. We bargain hard, we fight fair, and we defend our members in every arena where their livelihood is at stake. And we are a democratic organization, accountable to our members who pay those dues. If Québec’s bill proceeds, we will join allies to challenge it and to organize harder on the ground. The path forward is not to muzzle workers, but to strengthen the institutions that give them a say on their rights, health and safety, and dignity. When politicians try to silence us, they are really trying to silence you, and we will not let that happen.
