Bulletin
Will you stand up for your right to strike?
September 24, 2026
To: MoveUP Members
To our MoveUP members,
Earlier this week, you may have heard about the Carney government’s proposed amendments to the Canada Labour Code which include new and expanded power for the government to end a legal strike.
Let’s be very clear. This is a direct attack on our fundamental right as workers to stand up for ourselves and to demand better working conditions.
Unions across Canada have come together denouncing this blatant attack on our rights. On Tuesday, MoveUP President Annette Toth, in her capacity as national president, put out a media statement calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney and his government to take this anti-Canadian attack on workers off the table.
This isn’t just about the loss of our fundamental right to strike. If this amendment gets pushed through, it will significantly hurt our ability to bargain strong collective agreements. The threat of a strike is significantly weakened if it can be ended at any time by the government.
Although this change may only affect those who work in federally regulated industries to begin with, like our members at Seaspan and TST-CF Express, it will become a model that right wing provincial governments will emulate. This is why we must stand up and fight back now.
Take urgent action now
This Friday, September 25, the Vancouver & District Labour Council will hold a rally outside of Liberal MP Terry Beech’s office in Burnaby to send a clear message: the government should be standing with workers, not weakening our bargaining power.
Our MoveUP leadership and staff will be in attendance. If you do not have work on Friday morning and can join us, we strongly urge you to be there. Bring your union swag, your noisemakers, and your signs.
Let’s make the Carney government understand they have picked a fight that they won’t win. Workers will never surrender our right to strike.
Date: Friday, September 25
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: MP Terry Beech’s office (3906 Hastings St., Burnaby)
If you are unable to attend, you can still support the cause by sending an email to your MP using this form from the Canadian Labour Congress.
MoveUP’s office will be closed on Friday morning
This is a watershed moment for all workers in Canada, and we need to make as much noise as we can to get the Carney government to back down on this attack on our right to strike.
Our MoveUP staff, first and foremost, are dedicated workers’ rights activists. That’s why they are so passionate about the work they do, and why they are so good at their jobs.
They also recognize that if the right to strike is curtailed, it will have a very negative effect on their ability to fight for your rights at the bargaining table.
To allow our staff the opportunity to stand with Canada’s labour movement to oppose these changes, we will be closing our office on Friday morning so they can attend the rally. We will have select staff available to respond to calls to our office but otherwise they will be at the rally.
Thank you for your understanding and your support as we work to ensure our right to strike is not lost.
In solidarity,
Annette Toth, President
Brenda Chu, Secretary-Treasurer
Rysa Kronebusch, Vice-President, Utilities
Brian Martens, Interim Vice-President, ICBC Bargaining Unit
Christy Slusarenko, Vice-President, Combined Units