# Can my co-workers and I legally agree to demand higher wages together?

- Jurisdiction: Canada
- Practice area: Tenancy Law
- Published: 2026-11-01
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Canonical: https://lawasked.com/ca/tenancy-law/can-my-co-workers-i-legally-agree-demand

## Question

I have been working as a junior technician at a large manufacturing plant in Ontario for about three years now. Since January of last year, the cost of living has gone up significantly, and my pay cheque has barely changed despite the extra labour I put in during our busy season. Last Tuesday, during our lunch break, four of my closest colleagues and I sat down to discuss our situation. We decided that we want to approach our manager collectively to ask for a 10% increase in our hourly rates and better holiday pay. We aren't a formal union or anything like that; we are just a group of regular employees looking for some reasonable protection against these rising costs. I am worried because I heard a rumour from a friend in another industry that if workers band together to fix their wages, it might be considered illegal price-fixing or some kind of anti-competitive behaviour. I already tried talking to my supervisor individually last month, but he just brushed me off. I want to know if our plan to act as a group to negotiate better terms is actually legal or if we are breaking some kind of rule regarding competition.

## Summary

Yes, your plan to approach your manager as a group is legal. The law specifically protects employees who act together for their own reasonable protection regarding wages and working conditions.

## Analysis

Your concern about 'price-fixing' does not apply to your situation. While price-fixing is generally illegal under competition laws, there is a specific exception for workers. Under the Competition Act, nothing in the law applies to "combinations or activities of workmen or employees for their own reasonable protection as such workmen or employees" [1]. This means that when you and your four colleagues sit down to discuss and request a 10% increase in hourly rates and better holiday pay, you are not breaking anti-competitive rules. You are acting as a group for your own reasonable protection against rising costs.

Because you are not a formal union, you are simply a group of employees exercising your right to seek better terms. The law protects these collective activities to ensure workers can advocate for themselves. Furthermore, the law prohibits employers from punishing you for these actions. For example, an employer cannot "refuse to employ or to continue to employ or suspend, transfer, lay off or otherwise discriminate against any person... because the person... participates in the promotion, formation or administration of a trade union" [2]. While you are not a formal union, the spirit of labor protections is designed to prevent employers from retaliating against workers who organize to improve their working conditions.

It is important to note that while your group's request is legal, the law does not guarantee that your manager must agree to the 10% increase or the new holiday pay terms. The law protects your right to ask and to act together, but it does not force the employer to meet your specific demands.

## Statutory citations

- Competition Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. C-34, s. 4 - Collective bargaining activities [in force] (https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-34/index.html#s-4)
  > Nothing in this Act applies in respect of (a) combinations or activities of workmen or employees for their own reasonable protection as such workmen or employees
- Canada Labour Code, R.S.C., 1985, c. L-2, s. 94 - Employer interference in trade union [in force] (https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/L-2/index.html#s-94)
  > No employer... shall (a) refuse to employ or to continue to employ or suspend, transfer, lay off or otherwise discriminate against any person... because the person... participates in the promotion, formation or administration of a trade union

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