The picket lines have become a familiar sight across Canada this year. From postal workers to airline staff, railway employees to dock workers, Canadians are witnessing what some labour experts call the most significant surge in strike activity in decades.
Last week, I stood among hundreds of Canada Post workers in Mississauga as they rallied outside a major sorting facility. “Twenty years ago, I could support my family on this salary,” explained Darlene Kimpton, a postal worker of 23 years. “Today, I’m working overtime just to keep up with grocery bills.” Her story echoes across sectors and provinces, revealing deeper currents in Canada’s changing economic landscape.
The numbers tell a compelling story. According to Statistics Canada, work stoppages increased by 67% in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year. The Canadian Labour Congress estimates that more than 330,000 workers have participated in some form of labour action this year – the highest figure since the early 1980s.
But what’s driving this unprecedented wave of labour unrest?
Inflation has persistently outpaced wage growth since 2021. While the Consumer Price Index showed a 2.9% inflation rate in July, this follows years where housing costs, food prices, and essential services rose dramatically. Workers who accepted modest increases during pandemic uncertainty now face a significantly higher cost of living.
“We’re seeing the impact of what economists call ‘compression’ – where wages don’t keep pace with rising costs over multiple years,” explains Dr. Emily Westcott, labour economist at York University. “When you factor in housing costs increasing 24% nationally since 2020, even a seemingly reasonable 3% annual raise leaves workers falling behind.”
The federal government acknowledges these challenges. In a statement last month, Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan noted that “Canadians are feeling economic pressure, and this naturally extends to workplace negotiations.” However, the government has stopped short of direct intervention in most disputes, maintaining that collective bargaining should remain between employers and unions.
Air Canada‘s recent dispute highlights these tensions perfectly. After four days of service disruptions affecting over 100,000 travelers, pilots secured a tentative agreement with raises approaching 46% over four years. While the airline characterized these increases as “unsustainable,” union representatives pointed to similar settlements at American carriers and years of stagnant wages during pandemic recovery.
At the Port of Montreal, where a strike threatened to disrupt supply chains across eastern Canada, workers ultimately secured inflation protection clauses that will automatically adjust wages if consumer prices rise above certain thresholds. This pattern of seeking inflation guarantees appears in nearly 70% of major labour settlements this year, according to federal labour statistics.
But the current wave of strikes goes beyond simple economics. Working conditions, job security, and the expanding use of technology have become central to labour disputes.
At CP Rail, where workers briefly walked off the job in March, scheduling practices and rest periods dominated negotiations. “It’s not just about the paycheque,” said Michael Torres, a CP conductor I interviewed in Calgary. “When you’re working 70-hour weeks with unpredictable scheduling, no amount of money makes up for the toll on your health and family.”
The pandemic permanently altered workplace expectations. Remote work policies, work-life balance, and scheduling flexibility have become non-negotiable for many workers. According to a Canadian Federation of Independent Business survey, 76% of employers report increased employee demands around flexible working arrangements compared to pre-pandemic times.
Technological change adds another dimension. At Canada Post, automation was a key sticking point, with workers seeking guarantees against job displacement as new sorting technologies are introduced. Similar concerns exist at ports, railways, and manufacturing facilities, where artificial intelligence and robotics threaten traditional roles.
Public opinion appears mixed but generally supportive of workers. An Angus Reid poll from June found 58% of Canadians sympathize with striking workers, though this support drops significantly when services are disrupted. When Air Canada pilots threatened job action, support hovered at 47%, according to a snap poll by Léger.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has criticized the Liberal government for allowing “essential service disruptions” while emphasizing his party’s support for workers struggling with affordability. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has more openly backed labour actions, connecting them to broader economic inequality concerns.
For their part, business groups warn of economic consequences. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce estimates that major work stoppages this year have cost the economy over $4 billion in lost productivity and disrupted supply chains. “These short-term gains for specific worker groups come at a cost to the broader economy,” said Perrin Beatty, the Chamber’s president, at a Toronto business conference I attended last month.
Labour historians see the current moment as significant but not unprecedented. “Canada has experienced similar waves of labour activism during periods of economic transition,” notes Dr. Margaret Somerville of McGill University. “The post-World War II period and early 1980s saw comparable surges in strike activity as workers adjusted to new economic realities.”
Looking ahead, the question becomes whether this surge represents a temporary phenomenon or a fundamental shift in Canadian labour relations. With approximately 25% of collective agreements expiring within the next eight months, including major public sector unions, further disruptions seem likely.
For workers like Darlene at Canada Post, the calculus is simple: “We’re not asking for luxury. We’re fighting to maintain a middle-class existence that seems to be slipping away.” As I left the picket line, dozens of passing cars honked in support – perhaps suggesting that despite the inconveniences, many Canadians understand the larger economic anxieties driving this moment of labour activism.
As autumn approaches and more negotiations reach critical deadlines, Canadians should prepare for more service disruptions while government and business leaders reckon with the fundamental economic pressures fueling this historic surge in labour activism.
