Canada’s unions mark Human Rights Day by challenging rising racism and discrimination

Canada’s unions mark Human Rights Day by challenging rising racism and discrimination

Canada’s unions are marking International Human Rights Day and the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by calling on Canadians to collectively confront racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia. With hate crimes on the rise, the Canadian Labour Congress is encouraging people to endorse the Charter for Inclusive Communities which promotes “inclusive, just, and respectful communities in Canada”. Recent data released by…

Canada’s unions seek to remove barriers to employment for workers with disabilities

Canada’s unions are marking December 3, the International Day for Persons with Disabilities, by calling on the government to do more to remove barriers in its accessibility legislation. Along with their allies in the disability rights movement, Canada’s unions recently welcomed the introduction of Bill C-81, the Accessible Canada Act. However, they would like to see more focused attention on the…

The poem that inspired a movement

On December 1, 1911, The American Magazine published a poem with the title “Bread and Roses” for the very first time. Over the next few years, it would become an anthem of the trade union movement, linked to the struggle for social justice and equality. Now a favourite anthem of the labour movement around the world, James Oppenheim was inspired to write…

UN World AIDS Day: Global efforts to end HIV/AIDS get a boost in Nigeria

Ahead of this year’s UN World AIDS Day, Canada’s unions are pleased to join international efforts to better assess workplace programs aimed at promoting HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, and treatment in Nigeria. The Canadian Labour Congress is working with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Trade Union Congress-UK to support the National HIV Workplace Assessment in the sub-Saharan nation. Nigeria…

16 days of action: Towards ending gender-based violence

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25 marks the first day of 16 globally recognized days of activism to end gender-based violence. This year, Canada’s unions are taking action to specifically address gender-based violence in the workplace. Violence and harassment are a daily reality for far too many workers in Canada. The #MeToo movement…

CUPW and CLC issue joint statement in support of workers

The Canadian Labour Congress joins the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) in calling on Canada Post to negotiate fair contracts for postal workers. The CLC also joins CUPW in condemning the federal government’s back-to-work legislation. “The right to strike is an integral part of collective bargaining. Without it, an employer has no incentive to bargain in good faith, and…

Canada’s unions stand with trans workers

November 20 is the Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR). Communities around the world hold vigils, rallies and other memorial events on this day to honor two spirit, trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming people who have been murdered because of their gender identity. “Trans people face disproportionately high levels of violence and harassment. Ensuring respect and fair treatment for trans workers…

Ralph Klein blinks – conservative plans to slash budgets and privatize health services thwarted by Calgary laundry workers.

On November 14, 1995, laundry workers at the Calgary General Hospital called in sick to protest the outsourcing of their jobs. Enough was enough. It was time to take a stand. Within ten days, about 2,500 workers in six hospitals and nine nursing homes were on wildcat strikes and hundreds of other health care workers joined work-to-rule and other worker…

BC’S operation solidarity

In 1983, labour and activist organizations alike across the province, including unions, environmental, religious, social justice and women’s rights groups, came together over the course of several weeks through escalating actions in what would effectively become the largest political protest in BC’s history. (Source: BC Labour Heritage Centre) In the spring of 1983, British Columbians re-elected the Social Credit Party, headed by William (Bill)…

After 2 weeks in the streets, Ontario teachers end their historic mass protest.

On November 10, 1997, Ontario’s teachers returned to work after staging a two-week walkout to protest the radical, anti-democratic changes imposed by the Conservative government of Mike Harris. While the protest failed to stop Bill 160 from becoming law, it was a defeat for Harris and his so-called “common sense revolution” (CSR) in both public opinion and the courts. Mike…