Should companies be banned from bringing in replacement workers during a strike?

Often referred to as 'anti-scab' legislation, this policy prevents employers from hiring temporary workers to keep operations running while unionized staff are on strike. This issue came to a head with Bill C-58 in 2024, aiming to modernize federal labor codes. Proponents argue that without this ban, the right to strike is meaningless because companies have no incentive to negotiate fairly if they can simply replace the workforce. Opponents argue that banning replacement workers tilts the balance of power too far toward unions, potentially causing prolonged shutdowns of essential services like ports, railways, and telecommunications that damage the national economy.