Statement on Pierre Poilievre party and the Right to Work policy

The Nova Scotia Federation of Labour (NSFL) stands in firm opposition and wants to educate workers about the Conservative Party’s decision to incorporate support for American-style “Right to Work” (RTW) legislation contained in their policy book of 2023. The NSFL has had resolutions at past conventions on the subject, and we will fight to protect the rights we have achieved over the years; we have no intention of going backwards. This pro-conservative position represents a direct attack on the rights of working people, unions, and the principles of fairness and equity in the workplace.

It’s here for all to see: embedded in the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) 2023 Policy Book and has the rotting fish smell of a policy that can only be described as anti-worker. We warn workers not to underestimate the policy, which could cut a worker’s take-home pay according to a 2023 study from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve that found that once RTW laws were passed, a workers’ annual wages dropped by 4%. The study also found that unionization rates dropped in RTW states, leading to a decline in job security. If Poilievre and his party RTW laws were to be enacted, a 4% reduction would be substantial for workers who are already suffering, and this, along with tariffs, would be deeply troubling for workers.

Right-to-work laws, often framed under misleading rhetoric, are policies designed to weaken unions by allowing individuals to benefit from union-negotiated wages and benefits without contributing to the union itself. There is no other way to put it: The Conservative Party has adopted a policy that will be catastrophic for working families. We have seen the devastating consequences of these laws in numerous U.S. states, where workers’ rights have been gutted, wages stagnated, and inequality worsened. Nova Scotians deserve better than a race to the bottom.

The NSFL is committed to protecting workers’ hard-earned rights and ensuring that all Nova Scotians have access to fair wages, safe workplaces, and job security. We call on all workers to be very careful what they wish for in this election, and we all see what happened in the USA. We urge all Nova Scotians, unionized and non-unionized, to stand together in solidarity against this threat. The strength of our province has always been rooted in collective action and mutual respect. We will not allow politicians to divide us or dismantle the progress we have made.  

The Nova Scotia Federation of Labour will fight tirelessly to ensure that “Right to Work” policies have no place in the country. We will work with unions, community partners, and all labour movement allies to educate the public on this legislation’s dangers and mobilize resistance against its adoption. Now is not the time to weaken workers’ voices; it is the time to amplify them. Together, we will ensure that Nova Scotia remains a province where fairness, dignity, and respect in the workplace are upheld.