Monday evening, Wesley Lesosky, president of CUPE’s Air Canada Component and CUPE’s Airline Division, appeared before the Legislative Committee on Bill C-39, addressing the serious concerns it poses for working people in Canada.
“The government says it’s putting guardrails around Section 107,” said Lesosky. “Respectfully, that’s an insult to our intelligence. This bill weaponizes Section 107 and makes government intervention a routine feature of collective bargaining.”
Lesosky spoke to how Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code was used during the Air Canada Component strike in 2025, and how the employer was open about relying on government intervention leading up to job action.
“The right to strike for better wages isn’t some abstract constitutional principle. It’s the difference between living in poverty and living a life with dignity,” said Lesosky. “No worker should have to fight their own government to exercise that right.”
Lesosky called for the Committee to reject the changes to Section 107 and repeal Bill C-39.
“Don’t make it easier for employers to avoid their responsibilities at the bargaining table.”
CUPE’s Airline Division represents over 20,000 members across 11 Canadian airlines.
