This one Conservative policy will kick the ass of the middle class
If Pierre Poilievre becomes Prime Minister, his policies will reduce workers’ wages and reduce workers job stability.
Buried in the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) 2023 Policy Book is a stink bomb of a policy that can only be described as anti-worker: “The Conservative Party of Canada supports right to work legislation to allow optional union membership including student unions.”
This one simple policy could cut workers’ take-home pay by an average of $2,284 a year, while eroding job stability.
Right-to-work (RTW) laws mean workers can enjoy the benefits of union coverage without paying dues. Unions use dues to advocate and bargain for better wages and work conditions. When dues are restricted, unions are weakened. When unions are weakened, wages and working conditions get worse.
RTW laws don’t exist in Canada, but they do in some U.S. states. There we can see the harm they’ve caused working people.
A 2023 study from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve found that once RTW laws were passed, workers annual wages dropped by 4%. The study also found that unionization rates drop in RTW states, which leads to a decline in job security.
The average annual salary in Canada is $57,100. If Poilievre’s RTW laws were to enacted in Canada, a 4% reduction would mean workers would bring home $2,284 less a year on average.
Poilievre’s policy on RTW laws is specifically meant for the federal Public Service unions and unions in federally regulated industries, not provinces. But this would be a signal for provincial governments to follow suit.
Alberta’s governing United Conservative Party (UCP) has long-dabbled with policies in favor of RTW laws. In 2020, UCP members overwhelmingly passed a resolution calling for RTW laws in the province.
If Poilievre passes RTW laws to weaken paycheques, you can bet UCP leader Daneille Smith would follow his lead.
Union members or workers protected by a collective agreement should think about what a CPC government led by Pierre Poilievre would do to their paycheques. Evidence from south of the border shows the right-to-work laws cut wages and decrease jobs stability. Is that what we want here in Canada?