‘Maybe it’s a reckoning’: the reasons behind Canada’s increasing labour action

Air Canada is the latest major company in the country on the verge of a 2024 work stoppage — but as Canadians will point, it’s definitely not the first.

Air Canada is the latest major company in the country on the verge of a 2024 work stoppage — but as Canadians will point, it’s definitely not the first. 

Labour action has become more and more common over the last decade, and a slew of post-pandemic lockouts, strikes and endless threats have driven the point home. 

This year, Canadians have seen labour action at dozens of major workplaces, including WestJet, CN and CPKC Rails and the Canada Border Services Agency. 

That follows a 2023 where more than 6.5 million labour-person-hours were lost to work stoppages. 

“We are seeing immense wealth being accumulated by organizations — and perhaps by shareholders and executives — that isn’t translating to the workers who are contributing in a really material way,” Mount Royal University Human Resources Professor Dr. Christian Cook said. “Maybe it’s a reckoning.”

Benefits, paid time off and work-from-home arrangements are more important to employees now than they were in prior generations, according to Calgary Labour and Employment Lawyer Stephen Torscher. 

But money is still top of mind for workers: especially following a tough few years.