Premiers and PM must get health deal done

Premiers and PM must get health deal done

BRUSKE: Political bickering must be replaced with all-hands-on-deck urgency to save kids’ lives OTTAWA––Canada faces a rising number of children getting seriously ill and even dying from the ‘tripledemic’ of COVID, flu and RSV. Canada’s unions are calling on politicians at all levels to stop the blame and bickering and come together behind providing health care workers with the resources…

It’s time to end gender-based violence at work

A call centre worker receives a torrent of verbal abuse while helping a customer. A nurse returns from work with bruises and torn scrubs after being attacked by an agitated patient. A barista is stalked by a regular customer. These stories are a daily reality for many workers across Canada–and unfortunately, current worker protections fall short. For the past three…

Bank of Canada’s continuous rate hike is not slowing down inflation

Bruske: It’s time to address the true causes of current inflation, protect Canadians against its effects, and safeguard jobs and incomes. OTTAWA –– Canada’s inflation rate held at 6.9 per cent in October, despite the Bank of Canada’s aggressive interest rate increases, while workers across Canada continue to see their cost of living rise.  “To have the Bank of Canada…

Canada’s unions welcome inflation relief

Bruske: Liberal and New Democrat cooperation will help families weather this affordability crisis OTTAWA –– Canada’s unions welcomed new relief announced today to help families struggling with rising prices and congratulated the government for bringing forward measures to make life more affordable for everyday Canadians.  “Moving forward on rental and dental relief is essential and will help to ease the…

Despite slowing inflation, prices still rising faster than wages

Bruske: Government should tax corporate profiteers to pay for extending expiring EI measures OTTAWA––Improving inflation numbers are a hopeful sign, but there’s still an affordability crisis facing workers and their families, cautioned Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. Today’s slightly improved CPI numbers showed prices still rising at 7.6% in July, well ahead of average wage growth. Groceries…

Governments must help families facing economic precipice

Bruske: Mounting evidence of low-income families at grave risk from inflation crisis must be wake-up call to all levels of government OTTAWA––Canada’s unions are calling on Canada’s governments to take immediate action to increase supports for low-income people as evidence mounts of a growing number of families unable to afford skyrocketing housing, energy and food costs. “So many are struggling…

Canada’s unions celebrate B.C. card check law to empower workers

Bruske: It’s about fairness. Premier Horgan’s government enacts critical law to support working people VICTORIA, B.C. – Canada’s unions celebrate an important milestone today as a new law in British Columbia, to return automatic certification to the province, received royal assent. Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, was in the B.C. legislature to witness the legislation becoming law.…

Workers welcome wins in budget bill

Bruske: Canada’s unions welcome progress on key issues, but there’s more work to do on implementing 10 days of paid sick leave OTTAWA –– Canada’s unions welcomed progress in today’s Budget Implementation Act on a number of vital issues the labour movement has long pushed for but were disappointed with new delays and restrictions implementing the new paid sick leave…

Top 10 things unions and working people are looking for in Budget 2022

  OTTAWA – Canada’s unions are calling on the federal government to focus on the country’s economic recovery and social safety net in its budget to be released Thursday, prioritizing ten key demands. “The reality is, not everyone is sharing in the economic recovery,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). “Many families are still facing enormous…