Teamsters President James P. Hoffa applauded the Canadian government Thursday for using the North American Free Trade Agreement renegotiations to pressure the U.S. into banning state right-to-work laws.

Hoffa urged Canada’s negotiators to “hold their ground” against the U.S.’ own negotiators. Right-to-work laws prohibit workers from being forced to join or otherwise support a union as a condition of employment. Labor leaders dislike the laws because they are associated with membership losses and depleted treasuries.