Statement from Perrin Beatty on Port dispute review/anti-replacement worker legislation

Today, Labour Minister O’Regan announced the appointment of Professors Anthony Giles and Kevin Banks to initiate a review of the structural issues underlying the recent longshoring dispute at our West Coast ports, as well as similar disputes that have occurred in ports across Canada. We welcome that announcement. The review can help equip government to ensure our supply chains continue to deliver the goods Canadians need and get Canadian products to global markets.

Unfortunately, the Government’s announced intention to introduce legislation by the end of 2023 to prohibit the use of replacement workers in federally regulated workplaces, including ports, would take us in exactly the opposite direction. Though rarely used, replacement workers allow organizations in sectors like trucking, rail, ports, telecom, and air to provide a basic level of service that preserves critical services for Canadians.

Today’s collective bargaining system has been carefully crafted to encourage employers and unions to reach agreements at the bargaining table. By destroying this balance, the government would provide an encouragement to strike rather than to bargain collectively. Such an action would inflict serious damage on Canada’s economy and on our reputation as a reliable place to do business, as well as compromising Canadians’ ability to receive the services they require.

In announcing the appointment of Professors Giles and Banks, Minister O’Regan stated, “our credibility depends on the stable operation of our supply chains. We must do everything we can to preserve that stability.” The Canadian Chamber strongly supports his statement. To avoid vitiating the review announced today, we call upon the government to assure Canadians that it will not proceed with anti-replacement worker legislation before the full review process has been completed and our citizens and businesses have had the opportunity to be fully consulted on its recommendations. Any other action would render the review meaningless and create greater instability at a time when we urgently need to reinforce our supply chains.

Perrin Beatty, President & CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce