CBJ JUNE 2026

31 CLAC JUNE 2026 « The Canadian Business Journal 30 pathways has historically been limited. “A member can start as a labourer and then decide they want to become a carpenter or a pipe fitter,” Mathews says. “That flexibility has gone over extremely well in a number of Indigenous communities.” In some cases, CLAC leaders say, rigid seniority- based systems have unintentionally limited local participation on projects taking place on Indigenous territory. The union argues its model allows for more responsive and locally tailored agreements. “Our model allows us to create flexibility,” Mathews explains. “We were able to work with the owner and the Nations and say: We need to get people jobs.” Independence and Worker Choice CLAC’s independence from the Canadian Labour Congress is another defining feature of its identity, but leadership frames it less as separation and more as flexibility. “We don’t value independence for independence’ sake,” says Prins. “We value the freedom to be who we are.” That independence, he argues, allows CLAC to remain non-partisan, adapt bargaining strategies more freely, and design agreements that reflect specific workplace realities rather than broader political frameworks. Prins also sees value in a competitive labour landscape. “When unions have to demonstrate value to workers, it drives accountability and innovation,” he says. “Freedom of association only has meaning if workers actually have choices.” CLAC is affiliated with the World Organization of Workers, an international network of unions that share common values and a similar approach to labour relations.