Bruske will urge committee members to remove the proposed expansion of Section 107 and adopt amendments the CLC has already presented to the Minister of Labour.

“We’ve heard a great deal about the need for economic certainty. But protecting workers’ rights and maintaining labour stability are not competing goals,” said Bruske. “Parliament needs to consider what happens to collective bargaining when employers can count on the government to intervene.”

The CLC warns that giving employers reason to expect government intervention could make disputes harder to settle. It could also erode workers’ confidence in the labour relations system, increasing the risk of illegal strikes and escalating conflict.

“When workers lose faith that their legal rights will be respected, the risk of illegal strikes and escalating labour conflict grows,” said Bruske. “The government is taking an enormous gamble with a system that has served Canada well for decades.”

The CLC has proposed an alternative that would remove the new Section 107 powers and prevent the existing provision from being used to end legal strikes. It would also establish an independent panel of labour relations experts to assess whether a strike has created a genuine national economic emergency.

Under the proposed amendments, any decision to end a legal strike would require the government to make its case to Parliament, rather than allowing a minister to act unilaterally.

“Canada’s unions want a strong economy, reliable supply chains and stable labour relations. We share those goals with the business community,” said Bruske. “Labour stability is built when workers and employers bargain and reach a fair deal, not when government puts its thumb on the scale for employers.”

Bruske’s appearance follows testimony from business organizations, including the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters.

“We’ve given the government a clear path forward,” said Bruske. “Canada doesn’t have to sacrifice workers’ rights to achieve labour stability. Our amendments protect both. We’re asking parliamentarians to adopt them.”

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Media availability: Bea Bruske will appear before the Legislative Committee on Bill C-39 on Tuesday, October 20, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET.

Backgrounder – CLC’s Proposed Amendments to Bill C-39

The Canadian Labour Congress has submitted proposed amendments to the Minister of Labour focused on four changes.

1. Remove the new Section 107 powers and protect legal strikes

Remove the proposed expansion of Section 107 and clarify that the existing provision cannot be used to direct the end of legal strikes. Limit its use to referring questions to the Canada Industrial Relations Board, consistent with its historical purpose.

2. Establish an independent public interest panel

Create a standing panel of independent labour relations experts to assess whether an ongoing strike has caused a genuine national economic emergency. Intervention could be considered only where there is imminent, widespread, serious, and irreparable harm to the national economy. Ordinary economic disruption would not meet this threshold.

3. Require parliamentary consideration

The independent panel would provide its assessment to the Minister or Cabinet. If the government believed intervention was necessary, it would have to introduce back-to-work legislation for Parliament to consider, rather than ending the strike through ministerial action.

4. Ensure mediators are independent and qualified

Require special mediators to be independent of government, experienced in collective bargaining, and trusted by both unions and employers, with a mandate to help the parties reach negotiated agreements.

The proposed approach draws on recommendations from independent federal labour relations reviews, including the 1967 Woods Report and the 1996 Sims Report, which supported using independent expert bodies to assess disputes affecting the public interest.

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With MPs home for constituency week, demonstrations are taking place outside constituency offices across the country, including those of Prime Minister Mark Carney and several federal cabinet ministers.

“These changes will increase labour unrest across Canada,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “The government cannot credibly claim to be protecting labour stability while introducing legislation that will make disputes harder to resolve and more disruptive.”

Bill C-39 would give the federal labour minister sweeping new powers to end legal strikes based solely on the minister’s opinion that a work stoppage could be contrary to the national interest.

Nearly 95 percent of federally regulated labour disputes are resolved without a work stoppage. The CLC warns that giving employers reason to expect government intervention will encourage them to hold out at the bargaining table, making agreements harder to reach and increasing the likelihood of conflict.

Some of Canada’s largest unions have already pledged to defy the proposed restrictions if they become law and to stand behind other unions that do the same.

“Collective bargaining works because both sides have a reason to reach a deal,” said Bruske. “If employers believe the government will end a strike for them, that incentive disappears. And workers aren’t going to quietly accept having their rights taken away.”

Today’s National Day of Action follows weeks of growing opposition from unions across Canada, including grassroots mobilization, national advertising, direct lobbying of MPs, and international condemnation of the proposed legislation.

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Media opportunities: Rallies are taking place throughout the day at MPs’ constituency offices and other locations across Canada.

List of events:

• Guelph, ON: 9 a.m. – MP Dominique O’Rourke’s office, 350 Speedvale Avenue West
• Kelowna, BC: 9 a.m. – MP Stephen Fuhr’s office, 890 Clement Avenue
• North Bay, ON: 11:30 a.m. – MP Pauline Rochefort’s office, 375 Main Street West
• Sydney, NS: 12 p.m. – MP Mike Kelloway’s office, 850 Grand Lake Road
• Moncton, NB: 12 p.m. – MP Ginette Petitpas Taylor’s office, 272 St. George Street
• Montréal, QC: 12 p.m. – Complexe Guy-Favreau, 200 René-Lévesque Boulevard West
• Ottawa, ON: 12 p.m. – Prime Minister Mark Carney’s constituency office, 240 Kennevale Drive
• Saint John, NB: 12 p.m. – MP Wayne Long’s office, Market Square
• St. John’s, NL: 12 p.m. – Minister Joanne Thompson’s office, 120 Torbay Road
• Toronto, ON: 12 p.m. – Minister Evan Solomon’s office, 409 Parliament Street
• Prince Albert, SK: 12:15 p.m. – MP Randy Hoback’s office, 598 15th Street East
• Regina, SK: 12:15 p.m. – Scarth Street, across from Cornwall Centre
• Burnaby, BC: 1 p.m. – MP Wade Chang’s office, 4940 Kingsway
• Edmonton, AB: 2 p.m. – Minister Eleanor Olszewski’s office, 12220 Stony Plain Road NW
• Sudbury, ON: 4 p.m. – MP Vivian Lapointe’s office, 469 Bouchard Street
• Thunder Bay, ON: 4 p.m. – Minister Patty Hajdu’s office, 705 Red River Road
• Windsor, ON: 4 p.m. – MP Kathy Borrelli’s office, 9733 Tecumseh Road East
• Hamilton, ON: 4:30 p.m. – MP Lisa Hepfner’s office, 1394 Upper Gage Avenue
• Winnipeg, MB: 4:30 p.m. – MP Kevin Lamoureux’s office, 98 Mandalay Drive
• St. Catharines, ON: 5 p.m. – MP Chris Bittle’s office, 61 Geneva Street
• Pickering, ON: 5 p.m. – MP Juanita Nathan’s office, 1154 Kingston Road

Full list of events, times and locations: ⁠Workers Together National Day of Action map

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The post Workers rally at MPs’ offices across Canada to defend right to strike appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Ahead of Thursday’s second reading vote, Canadian Labour Congress President Bea Bruske joined Candace Rennick, National Secretary-Treasurer of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Tom Doran, President of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada, and CLC Executive Vice-President Marc-Édouard Joubert to urge MPs to remove the bill’s proposed restrictions on the right to strike.

“Employers have been asking Ottawa for greater power to end strikes, and Bill C-39 gives it to them,” said Bruske. “That changes the calculation at every bargaining table. Employers will have a reason to hold out for government intervention instead of reaching a deal. The result will be greater unrest, and it will be because this government chose to tip the scales in employers’ favour.”

The vast majority of disputes in the federal sector are already resolved without a work stoppage. Canada’s unions say the possibility of a strike is one of the reasons the system works: both sides know there are consequences if they fail to reach an agreement.

Bruske pointed to the International Longshoremen’s Association, whose Canadian members have gone nearly 50 years without a labour disruption, as evidence that strong collective bargaining can deliver the stability the government says it is seeking.

“For nearly 50 years, these workers and their employers have reached agreements without a labour disruption,” said Bruske. “That record has survived tough negotiations, changing governments and enormous changes in the industry. The irony is that a law being sold as a way to guarantee stability could be the very thing that ends it.”

Canadian Union of Public Employees National Secretary-Treasurer Candace Rennick said taking power away from workers will not produce labour peace.

“Governments cannot legislate labour peace by taking away workers’ power to fight for a fair deal. As MPs consider Bill C-39 at second reading, our message is clear: remove the new restrictions on the right to strike and make employers bargain fairly. Legislating away our constitutional right to strike will not stop us from using the full strength of our union to defend our members,” said Rennick.

International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada President Tom Doran warned that the consequences will extend beyond individual labour disputes as workers bargain over automation, outsourcing, and the future of their jobs.

“ILWU members keep Canada’s economy moving and growing. Our members may also be among the first to face these new restrictions, and the consequences will reach far beyond the waterfront,” said Doran. “You cannot build a stronger Canada by stifling the rights of workers, making it easier to eliminate good union jobs, and harder for workers to defend them. They have a fundamental right to bargain over their future, and to withhold their labour to defend it.”  

Since Bill C-39 was introduced, unions across Canada have been united in strong opposition to the proposed restrictions on the right to strike, mobilizing members, engaging MPs directly, and speaking out publicly against the legislation.

The Canadian Labour Congress is calling on Parliament to remove the new restrictions proposed in Bill C-39 and repeal Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code.

“If this government moves ahead with changes that encourage employers to hold out and make disputes harder to settle, it cannot credibly say these changes are about stability and certainty,” said Bruske. “They are a choice to give employers greater power at the bargaining table.”

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The post Bill C-39 could create more labour unrest, union leaders warn appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Canada’s unions have been clear: decent work means decent rights, including the right to strike. Expanding government powers to restrict workers’ constitutionally protected right to strike is the wrong direction for Canada.

“At a time when workers are already facing economic uncertainty from the US trade war, the federal government should be strengthening workers’ rights and improving working conditions — not weakening them,” said CLC President Bea Bruske. “Canada should be setting an example on workers’ rights, especially when we look at what workers are facing in the United States.”

 “You don’t build a stronger, more resilient economy by weakening workers’ rights. You build it by ensuring workers have a real voice and the power to negotiate for better wages, safer workplaces, and secure jobs,” said Bruske.

This year’s World Day for Decent Work theme, set by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), is Young workers organising for the future. The ITUC is highlighting the challenges facing young workers, including low wages, insecure work, and the rising cost of living.

“There’s so much at stake for young workers. If we allow workers’ rights to steadily erode, young workers will enter the workforce with fewer protections and less bargaining power than previous generations,” said Lily Chang, CLC Secretary-Treasurer. “We should be raising the bar for workers’ rights in Canada and setting an example at the global level. That means decent wages, secure jobs, strong protections, and a meaningful voice at work.”

“This is how we build a truly resilient economy: one that works for workers today and gives the next generation a fair shot at a better future,” said Bruske.

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Representing workers through national trade union organizations in 169 countries and territories, the ITUC is calling on the federal government to suspend consideration of the proposed restrictions and engage in meaningful consultations with Canadian unions.

“Canada has a long history of standing up for fundamental labour rights,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “It should concern all of us when the international labour movement is warning that legislation before our Parliament could put those commitments at risk. This is an opportunity for the government to reconsider these provisions and get this right.”

The ITUC letter points to Prime Minister Carney’s own defence of a democratic, rights-based international order and warns that expanding ministerial powers to intervene in legal strikes risks putting Canada at odds with those principles and its international commitments.

Canada ratified ILO Convention 87 in 1972. The ITUC’s intervention comes months after the International Court of Justice confirmed that the right to strike is protected under the Convention.

“The government has heard these concerns from workers and unions across Canada. Now it is hearing them from the international labour movement,” said Bruske. “We hope the Prime Minister will take a hard look at what is being raised here. There is still time to change course.”

In his letter, ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle warns that when countries fail to uphold the rights they defend internationally, authoritarian governments can use that inconsistency to justify their own attacks on international human rights and labour standards.

The Canadian Labour Congress is calling on the federal government to remove the proposed new restrictions on the right to strike from Bill C-39.

Link to the official letter here.

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The post Global labour body warns Bill C-39 could violate Canada’s international obligations appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

This year marks 11 years since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its final report and 94 Calls to Action. While some progress has been made, as of August 1, 2026, roughly 41 percent have not been started, and 15 percent have stalled. One of those stalled is the full implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as the framework for reconciliation.  

UNDRIP applies to all levels of government, and in 2023, the federal government released its UNDRIP Action Plan, which includes 181 measures to achieve the declaration’s objectives. Since then, progress has stalled considerably, and the federal government’s own 2025 progress report highlighted that significant improvement is needed. As noted by National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak of the Assembly of First Nations, the federal government’s progress report “still reveals an ongoing lack of meaningful measures to ensure Canada’s policies, legislation, consultation processes, and mandates are aligned with the spirit and intent of the Declaration.”

National Chief Woodhouse Nepinak called the report a call to action in itself. “The concerns of Indigenous communities must be heard, and governments must ensure they are fulfilling their obligations under UNDRIP and living up to their own promises of reconciliation,” said Lily Chang, Secretary-Treasurer of the Canadian Labour Congress.

This June, the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples tabled its final report on the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, passed in 2021. The report includes nine recommendations to align federal laws with UNDRIP. In addition to urging the government to accelerate progress toward completing all the Calls to Action for which it is responsible, Canada’s unions call on the federal government to implement the recommendations of the Standing Committee.

Workers and unions also have an important role to play in advancing the calls to action and reconciliation in our workplaces and unions. We must keep working to dismantle systemic racism and discrimination, and tackle inequitable access to employment opportunities faced by Indigenous workers. We must continue to educate ourselves and members about the history and current impacts on Indigenous peoples of colonial systems and policies, and we must actively create spaces for understanding, knowledge-sharing and dialogue, and build opportunities to take individual and collective action.

Check out our latest resource: Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action: Union and Worker Solidarity

And visit our Indigenous Justice and Resource Centre for even more resources to take action to advance Indigenous rights and justice in your union and workplace.

The post Honouring Truth Means Acting on Reconciliation appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

In 2024, the CEOs of Air Canada, CN, CPKC, Rogers, Bell, and TELUS received between $12.4 million and $23.6 million each in total compensation.

That amounts to between 124 and 199 times the average annual compensation per job in their respective industries.

“These CEOs make more in a few hours than what many workers earn in an entire year,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “And now they are cheering legislation that would weaken workers’ leverage to negotiate for better wages and working conditions.”

Employer groups have publicly welcomed Bill C-39’s changes to section 107, with some calling for even broader government intervention in labour disputes.

Bill C-39 would give the Minister of Labour broad discretion to intervene in a legal strike where the minister forms the “opinion” that the strike is, or could be, contrary to the “national interest”. The CLC has called for those provisions to be removed.

“The right to strike is what gives workers leverage at the bargaining table,” said Bruske. “Without it, workers are left asking some of the richest and most powerful corporations in the country to voluntarily give them a fair share.”

The CEO-worker gap is stark:

• TELUS CEO: $20.6 million — 199 times the average compensation in telecommunications.
• CPKC CEO: $23.6 million — 188 times the average compensation in rail transportation.
• CN CEO: $18.6 million — 148 times the average compensation in rail transportation.
• Rogers CEO: $14.1 million — 136 times the average compensation in telecommunications.
• Air Canada CEO: $12.4 million — 128 times the average compensation in air transportation.
• Bell CEO: $12.8 million — 124 times the average compensation in telecommunications.

“When workers lose leverage, employers gain it,” said Bruske. “The government’s proposed legislation tips the balance at the bargaining table. Workers will be the victims of this bill, and corporations that already hold enormous economic power will be its only winner.”

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The post CEOs covered by new labour code make up to 199 times more than their workers appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“When large corporations are cheering new government powers to shut down legal strikes, workers should be alarmed,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “Bill C-39 gives one minister unchecked power to override workers’ constitutional right to strike, with no independent body required to agree and no one with the power to stop them.”

Employer groups representing major companies in rail, ports, airlines, and other sectors have welcomed the changes. Some are already arguing the government should go further and give the minister power to intervene before a strike even begins.

Their enthusiasm is telling. Employers understand that the credible threat of a strike is what gives workers leverage to win better wages and working conditions.

Bill C-39 also allows the economic and social consequences of a strike to weigh in favour of government intervention. But those consequences are what give workers leverage to get an employer to compromise and reach a deal.

“The right to strike only means something if workers can use it when it matters,” said Bruske. “If employers believe government will step in when the pressure is on, they have less reason to compromise. A right you cannot exercise is not a right.”

The government has pointed to safeguards around the minister’s new power. But the ultimate decision is based on the Minister’s opinion and is completely at the discretion of the Minister.

“These aren’t guardrails. They’re procedural cover for unchecked power,” said Bruske.

Canada’s largest union has already warned where restricting legal strikes could lead. The Canadian Union of Public Employees’ National Executive Board unanimously committed this week to defying Bill C-39’s restrictions on the right to strike if the legislation passes unamended.

“Taking away the legal right to strike does not make a labour dispute disappear,” said Bruske. “It forces workers to choose between giving up their rights and defying the government.”

The Canadian Labour Congress is calling on Parliament to remove Bill C-39’s new restrictions on the right to strike.

BACKGROUND: Reality Check — Bill C-39 and the Right to Strike attached.

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The post Employers cheer Bill C-39 restrictions on the right to strike appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Across Canada, workers are taking decisive action to fight for gender justice in every sphere of our lives. At a time of worsening economic uncertainty, never ending trade wars and an alarming trend of anti-worker and anti-human rights legislative actions, women and gender diverse workers are too often left feeling the brunt of these harsh realities.

“Through our unions, at the bargaining table and in government, unions are pushing for stronger protections and better policies that truly advance gender equality and economic justice, and leave no worker behind,” said Siobhán Vipond, Executive Vice President, CLC.

Unions are proud to be a movement that’s fighting to make life more affordable for everyone in Canada and recognize that those at the socio-economic margins of society – like women and gender diverse workers – face the greatest barriers to economic justice. That’s why we fight for pharmacare, affordable childcare, public services, pay equity, gun control, expanded parental leave, and paid domestic violence leave. 

“Unions know that the most significant economic gains on gender equality for women and gender diverse workers are won in the workplace and that’s why we will never stop championing the role of unions in advancing a gender justice agenda in the world of work,” said Vipond.

These are challenging times – between trade, tariffs, and rising costs, it’s more important than ever to make sure that we stand together to defend the progress we’ve made. That’s why unions are leading the way to defend workers’ rights, including the right to strike.

When women workers have fair wages, safe workplaces and a meaningful voice on the job, we can strengthen our economy and make progress toward gender justice.

When we protect as many jobs as we can and help workers and communities through economic disruption, we strengthen our economy and make progress toward gender justice.

When we protect the public services people depend on, including the care services that are essential to women’s access to employment, and we make sure those care jobs are good jobs, we strengthen our economy and make progress toward gender justice.

When we challenge hate and misogyny and work to prevent and address violence and harassment at work, we strengthen our economy and make progress toward gender justice.

And when we make progress toward gender justice, we win for the economy, for workers and for our communities.

From maternity leave to pay equity to child care and paid domestic violence leave, unions have delivered for women and gender-diverse workers. This Gender Equality Week, it’s time to double down on our efforts to defend these gains and keep striving for better.

This year we are asking workers of all genders to help us keep building the momentum to address the impacts of domestic violence at work by filling out our second National Survey on Domestic Violence at Work. This survey builds on the groundbreaking evidence from our 2014 report to understand what has changed – and what still needs to change – to make work safer for everyone.

“Gender justice is a foundational part of Canada’s labour movement, and workers will continue to Rise Up! together to make real change,” said Vipond. “This gender equality week and beyond, we’re going to keep fighting for a more feminist and equitable economy for every worker, every workplace, and every community from coast, to coast, to coast.”

Sign up to join us at Workerstogether.ca  

The post Take a stand and Rise Up! for Gender Justice with Canada’s Unions appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“Private investors don’t put billions into airports unless they expect to make billions back. The government is pointing to Australia as its model, and we’ve already seen the results there: higher costs for passengers and airlines, pressure on workers, and more airport revenue flowing to private investors.

Canada’s airports are already productive public assets, generating approximately $525 million a year in revenue for the federal government. Giving private investors long-term concessions means trading away decades of that value for cash today.

In the middle of a trade war, handing profitable public infrastructure over to private investors is exactly the wrong move. If the goal is to make Canada stronger and more secure, we should be investing in the assets we depend on, keeping their value here at home.

Canada needs to invest in itself and protect good jobs. We won’t build a stronger Canada by selling pieces of it to the highest bidder.”

Link to the CLC’s official Airport Privatization report here.

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The post Airport privatization will cost Canadians, warns CLC appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Public Runways, Private Profits: Why Airport Privatization Would Be Risky and Costly for Canadians examines airport privatization in Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It finds a recurring pattern of higher charges, pressure on workers, and the loss of long-term public value.

“Canadians already pay too much to fly. Privatizing our airports risks making that problem worse,” said Lily Chang, Secretary-Treasurer of the Canadian Labour Congress. “Private investors need to make a profit, and that money has to come from somewhere. The evidence shows it can come from higher costs for passengers, lower labour costs and staffing, or revenue that would otherwise stay in public hands.”

The report estimates that private investors would need airports to generate 15 to 20 percent more revenue than they do under the current model to provide competitive returns.

After Australia privatized its airports, passengers and airlines paid more while airport profits grew. At Perth Airport, revenue collected from airlines per passenger rose by more than 60 percent over a decade, while Sydney Airport cut 40 percent of its workforce once post-sale job protections expired.

“Airport workers in Canada already deal with contract flipping, outsourcing and pressure on wages and staffing,” Chang said. “We should be making airport jobs better and more secure, not creating another incentive to cut labour costs to generate returns for investors.”

Currently, Canada’s airport authorities are not-for-profit and reinvest surpluses back into airports, while airport rents return roughly $525 million a year to the federal government.

While airport privatization is not on the agenda for next week’s Investment Summit, it is not off the table. The federal government has repeatedly said it is considering privatization and alternative ownership models.

“We want investment that builds infrastructure, expands our productive capacity, and creates good union jobs. The Investment Summit should be about building and strengthening Canada, not putting public infrastructure on the auction block,” Chang said.

The CLC is calling on the federal government to reject airport privatization and focus instead on affordable air travel, better infrastructure and services, and good union jobs.

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The post Airport privatization would cost workers and passengers, CLC report warns appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“The government’s What We Heard report reflects what workers and unions have been saying throughout the Labour Code review, but it also leaves the door open to proposals that would give government more power to intervene in strikes and restrict workers’ bargaining power. Canada needs stronger labour laws that protect the right to strike, support free collective bargaining, and hold employers accountable when they break the rules.

That is especially important now. Canada is confronting a trade war that is forcing us to make fundamental choices about the kind of economy we want to protect and build.

Strong worker protections, decent wages, and collective bargaining make our economy stronger and more resilient. They are part of what we are fighting to protect. We cannot respond to Donald Trump’s trade war with a race to the bottom here at home.

Workers have been clear about what needs to change: repeal section 107, protect paid sick leave, crack down on wage theft and misclassification, and strengthen protections against bad-faith bargaining.

The government has heard from workers. Now we need to see those priorities reflected in the legislation that follows”.

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The post CLC warns Labour Code report leaves door open to restrictions on the right to strike appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“Canada is right to stand firm against Trump, but we cannot lose sight of what that will mean for working people,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “There will be real costs and disruption. Workers cannot be left to shoulder those costs and risks alone.”

Canada’s unions are calling for stronger Employment Insurance with easier access, increased benefits, and support for workers directly and indirectly affected by the trade war. Protecting workers and communities through the disruption also means maintaining the public services people rely on and ensuring government support for companies protects Canadian jobs and production.

Economic uncertainty cannot be used as an excuse to weaken workers’ rights. As Ottawa reviews the Canada Labour Code, unions are calling on the government to protect the right to strike and reject new powers to interfere in legal strikes.

“The right to strike is fundamental to fair bargaining,” said Bruske. “Government’s job is to be a fair referee, set fair rules, and let workers and employers negotiate. It should not step in and tip the scales when employers don’t like where negotiations are going.”

The choices made now will shape what comes after this trade war.

“We need to protect as many jobs as we can, help workers and communities weather the disruption, protect the public services people depend on, and build an economy that delivers a better future for working people and their communities,” said Bruske.

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The post Labour Day statement from Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress: This Labour Day, workers are fighting for our jobs and our rights appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

This award is named in honour of Carol McGregor, an outstanding disability rights activist, member of NUPGE and the CLC Disability Rights Working Group, and who was much loved by all those who worked with her. Carol passed away in 2006, and this award lives on in her name to recognize the incredible disability justice activism in our communities.

2026 marks the fifteenth anniversary of the Carol McGregor CLC Disability Rights Award.

In 2025, the award recognized United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Canada activist Stephannie Leach. 

Stephannie is an inspiring leader in our labour movement who has tirelessly advocated for the rights of workers with disabilities in Alberta and in the Northwest Territories. Stephannie’s leadership in this area spanned both her involvement in her workplace and in her union, UFCW Canada Local 401. Learn more about Stephannie’s dedication and activism on disability rights here.

Criteria for the 2026 award:

Award recipient must be a worker with a disability who:

1. Is active in the labour movement and/or community.
2. Has made a significant and lasting impact in the union and/or community by promoting and defending the rights of persons with disabilities.
3. Has manifested their activism in one or more of the following ways:
   • Strategized and mobilized others around workplace issues and lobbying for the full participation of Canadians with disabilities in all aspects of society.
   • Developed and/or practiced organizing strategies to include tactics aimed specifically at advancing disability justice in the workplace.
   • Represented members to ensure all activities and events are accessible to members with disabilities and promoting employment equity for people with disabilities within the workplace.
   • Educated members about disability justice issues in the workplace and in society.

Any union member or organization may nominate a candidate.

All nominations must be received by the deadline, November 6, 2026. Please complete the online nomination form linked here.

The post Carol McGregor CLC Disability Rights Award: Nominations are now open! appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“The government is asking the wrong question,” said Bea Bruske, President of the CLC. “You don’t fix a problem by writing a manual for it. The federal government has repeatedly used section 107 to undermine free collective bargaining. The answer isn’t to codify that power. It’s to repeal it.”

In its second submission to the Canada Labour Code review, the CLC renews its call to repeal section 107 and warns that proposals to codify its use would legitimize government interference in free collective bargaining instead of strengthening workers’ right to strike.

“This week’s resolution of the WestJet dispute is another reminder that collective bargaining works. Even difficult disputes can be resolved through negotiation when governments allow the bargaining process to run its course.”

The submission also calls for reforms to strengthen collective bargaining, including expedited grievance arbitration, stronger first-contract dispute resolution, better enforcement against wage theft and employee misclassification, and protecting paid medical leave.

“Canadians understand that strong worker protections make Canada stronger. Recent national polling commissioned by the CLC found overwhelming support for strong labour protections and the right of workers to have a meaningful voice at work. This review should strengthen those rights, not look for new ways to weaken them.”

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The post Second Labour Code submission warns Ottawa not to entrench powers to end legal strikes appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Emancipation Day recognizes the abolition of slavery in Canada and other British colonies on August 1^st, 1834. It is a day to reflect on this nation’s history and participation in slavery, and to remember and honour those who were engaged in the struggle and uprisings against the transatlantic slave trade in British colonies. This day is significant because it’s also about dignity and resilience.

“While we are reflecting on the past, it is also important to recognize the present-day impacts of Canada’s history of slavery on Black communities. Black people in Canada still face major injustices and the legacy of the slave trade lives on today in the form of racial inequities in employment, education, housing, and health, as well as the over-policing and over-surveillance of Black communities,” said Marc-Édouard Joubert, Executive Vice-President of the Canadian Labour Congress.

When it comes to employment, data from Statistics Canada showed that Black workers experienced significant earnings gaps, often working in lower-wage occupations despite their education. They were also less likely to have full-time, year-round employment compared to non-racialized workers who are third-generation or more in Canada.

A 2023 Black Canadian National Survey conducted by York University’s Institute for Social Research, in partnership with the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, found that 96% of Black Canadians identified racism as a workplace problem and 78% viewed it as serious or very serious. Nearly half of Black workers (48%) reported experiencing workplace discrimination or unfair treatment, compared to other racialized groups (39%) and non-racialized workers (41%). Black workers perceived workplaces as epicentres of racial discrimination and unfairness.

A modernized Employment Equity Act is a critical means to addressing the issues of systemic racism and discrimination illustrated by this data. It has been three years since the release of the federal government’s Employment Equity Task Force’s thorough report and recommendations on updating the Act, and since the previous government committed to adding Black workers as a new designated equity group under the Act, and inequities continue to deepen while workers wait for action from government.

Canada’s unions are once again urging the federal government to fully implement the recommendations of the Task Force and introduce an updated Act, with sufficient funding to support employers in implementing it and the resources necessary for the Canadian Human Rights Commission to carry out enforcement and ensure compliance and effective evaluation.

This Emancipation Day, here are some ways to celebrate and support Black workers and communities:

• Find and participate in Emancipation Day events in your area
• Check out the CLC’s factsheet on the issues Black workers are facing
• Join the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists’ (CBTU) campaign calling on the Government of Canada to issue a formal apology for Canada’s role in the trafficking and enslavement of Africans.
• Educate yourself on Canada’s history of slavery and its lasting impacts
• Read the United Nations Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent’s country report on Canada.

The post Emancipation Day: Justice requires action, not just reflection. appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Parliament passed this law to protect workers’ right to strike and ensure collective bargaining is fair. When employers use scab labour, they undermine that fundamental right.

The Bank of Canada should immediately stop using scab labour, comply with the Canada Industrial Relations Board’s orders, and return to the bargaining table.

Workers need to know that Canada’s labour laws apply equally to everyone, including the country’s public institutions. Respect for the law begins with following it.”

Link to the official letter here.

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The post Statement from Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

On behalf of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), which represents over three million workers across Canada, I am writing to you today about a matter of historical and moral importance.

On March 25, 2026, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution declaring the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans a crime against humanity. Canada abstained. At least four resolutions have been presented in the last six years regarding a federal apology for Canada’s role in chattel slavery.

Overwhelming historical evidence documenting the trafficking of enslaved Africans has demonstrated the gravity and enduring consequences of these systems. Africans were enslaved in colonial Canada for over 200 years. The Atlantic provinces, as well as Upper and Lower Canada (now Ontario and Quebec), built prosperity as a direct result of the trafficking of enslaved Africans.

International recognition is not merely symbolic; it preserves an accurate historical record and acknowledges both the global suffering caused by such a profound crime against humanity, and its deeply negative generational impacts.

The data on said impacts on Black communities here in Canada is clear. Per Statistics Canada:

• Black Canadians earn 75.6 cents per dollar compared to non-racialized workers.
• Black youth face unemployment rates more than double the national average.
• Black families present in Canada for three generations or more still experience poverty rates double those of non-racialized neighbours.

These outcomes are the measurable legacies of systems that have never been fully acknowledged. The CLC joins the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) and other members of Black communities across Canada in calling on the federal government to:

• Provide a full public explanation for Canada’s abstention from the March 25, 2026, UN resolution.
• Formally acknowledge Canada’s historical role in the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans.
• Issue a federal apology to Black Canadians.
• Work in genuine partnership with Black communities to address enduring inequalities.

These actions reinforce and affirm Canada’s stated commitments to human rights, both domestically and internationally, and provide a meaningful path to righting historical wrongs.

Sincerely,

Bea Bruske
President

The post Letter to the Prime Minister: Call for federal acknowledgement and apology for Canada’s role in the trafficking of enslaved Africans appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

OTTAWA — As the federal government reviews the Canada Labour Code, new national polling conducted by Pollara Strategic Insights for the Canadian Labour Congress shows Canadians believe workers need a stronger voice at work, are concerned that large corporations have too much power, and reject proposals that would make it harder for workers to exercise their right to strike.

The survey of 1,950 Canadian adults found that every worker protection measure under review is seen as fair by an overwhelming majority, including improved health and safety enforcement, faster grievance resolution, tougher action on wage theft and misclassification, successor rights, and paid sick day protections. But when asked about requiring workers to wait longer and clear additional hurdles before striking, Canadians were evenly split, giving the proposal no net support at 44% fair and 44% unfair.

The findings suggest Canadians see collective bargaining as one of the few ways workers can balance the power of large employers. Nearly two-thirds (65%) support the right of workers in key industries to strike when negotiations have broken down, including majorities of NDP, Liberal, and Conservative voters. Half of Canadians (50%) oppose giving the federal government greater power to make strikes harder, compared to 39% who support it. An overwhelming 84% say it is important that workers have a strong voice in decisions affecting their jobs, pay, and working conditions during economic uncertainty.

The results come amid deep economic anxiety. While 45% identify the rising cost of living as their top household concern, they do not blame workers for the country’s economic challenges. Nearly half of Canadians (47%) say they have little or no power to improve their own wages, working conditions, or job security, rising to 67% among service workers.

Canadians rank large corporations having too much economic power as a greater threat to the economy than strikes, which finish last among the seven issues tested. At the same time, 90% say strong labour protections are important to the stability of the Canadian economy.

“Canadians draw a very clear line in this data,” said Matt Smith, Executive Vice President at Pollara Strategic Insights. “There is broad, cross-partisan support for the measures that protect workers. But when a proposal is understood as making it harder for workers to strike, support disappears. Canadians see strong labour protections as part of a stable economy, not a threat to it, and they rank strikes last among the economic risks facing the country.”

“Canadians don’t want government wearing a corporate jersey. They expect a fair referee that protects workers’ rights, keeps the playing field level, and ensures everyone plays by the same rules,” said Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress. “This poll makes it clear that Canadians want government to strengthen workers’ rights, not tip the balance even further toward powerful employers.”

The survey also found that individual workers are by far the most trusted voices on labour issues and workers’ rights, with a net trust score of +56. Trade unions and labour organizations are also trusted on these topics (+20), while the federal government (−4) and companies and industry associations (−13) are both distrusted on balance when addressing labour issues and workers’ rights.

About the survey
The survey was conducted by Pollara Strategic Insights on behalf of the Canadian Labour Congress between June 9 and 18, 2026, among 1,950 Canadian adults (18+) using an online research panel, including an oversample of 200 union members. Data were weighted by gender, age, and region using the most recent Census data. Online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error; as a guideline, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of ±2.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Pollara Strategic Insights is a member of the Canadian Research Insights Council (CRIC), and this research was conducted in compliance with CRIC standards.

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Media contacts
Canadian Labour Congress: CLC Media Relations – media@clcctc.ca | 613-526-7426

Pollara Strategic Insights: Matt Smith, Executive Vice President, West – mattsmith@pollara.com | 604-750-4383

The post New poll: Canadians draw a line: protect workers, don’t restrict strikes appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

The breaking point has been reached. Like all workers in healthcare, nurses report chronic staffing shortages, unsafe working conditions, rising workplace violence, and wages that fail to keep pace with the realities of the job. They are now sending a clear message: the status quo is no longer acceptable.

This is about more than a better paycheque. It’s about respect, a safe work environment, and a healthcare system that gives nurses the support they need to provide the quality care every patient deserves. We urge Premier Eby’s government to address longstanding issues at the bargaining table.

Their fight is our fight. Every worker deserves the right to bargain a fair contract that reflects the value of their work, and protects their health and safety.

A strong public healthcare system depends on nurses who are respected, protected, and fairly compensated. That’s what BC nurses are fighting for, and it’s what healthcare workers across the country are calling for. It’s time for the federal government to ensure adequate funding for public universal healthcare for all Canadians.

The post Statement from the Canadian Labour Congress in Solidarity with Striking BC Nurses appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

This Canada Day, we must stand firm against the Trump administration as we begin negotiations on the future of CUSMA. A new agreement should strengthen, not weaken, our ability to invest in Canadian industries, protect public services, uphold strong and enforceable workers’ and labour rights, and expand value-added production here at home.

No deal is better than a bad deal.

The past 18 months of trade instability have shown that Canada’s prosperity cannot depend on uncertainty beyond our borders. Real sovereignty means having the freedom to shape our own economic future, strengthen supply chains, create good jobs, and ensure the benefits of trade are shared by the workers who make our economy possible.

Canada Day is an opportunity to celebrate the values that bring us together: fairness, solidarity, resilience, and a shared commitment to building a better future. These are the values that have shaped our country, and the values we must continue to defend.

As we celebrate Canada today, let’s recommit to building an economy where workers remain at the heart of every decision. That’s how we build a strong Canada.

The post Elbows up for Canada Day: A better deal for a stronger Canada appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“Forced labour is a fundamental violation of workers’ rights,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “Workers in Canada should not be forced to compete against exploitation, and workers anywhere in the world should not be subjected to forced labour so corporations can increase their profits.”

The Canadian Labour Congress supports measures to strengthen enforcement against forced labour imports in Bill C-35. However, stronger enforcement of an import ban alone is not enough. Canada also needs mandatory human rights due diligence requirements, meaningful penalties for corporations that profit from forced labour, and real remedies for workers harmed by abuse in global supply chains.

Bruske said Canada should strengthen its laws because it is the right thing to do for workers, not because Donald Trump is looking for a new excuse to attack Canadian jobs and industries through trade and tariffs. She added that workers know the difference between a genuine commitment to labour rights and a trade strategy dressed up as one.

“Workers deserve more than a response designed to avoid Donald Trump’s latest trade and tariff threats,” said Bruske. “Canada should use this moment to build a real forced labour regime that tackles exploitation and holds corporations accountable.”

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The post Canada’s unions support stronger action on forced labour, reject Trump’s tariff pretext appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

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The post Statement From CLC President Bea Bruske On Senate Report: Keep Canada Moving appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“This is a victory for workers everywhere,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “The world’s highest court has made it clear: workers do have the right to strike under international law. That clarity matters enormously for workers, unions, governments, and employers alike. And we’re proud of the role that CLC played in securing this decision.”

The Landmark ruling confirms that the right to strike is protected under International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize, ending a decades-long dispute over one of the most fundamental rights workers possess.

The Canadian Labour Congress helped advance the case before the ICJ by pushing for the referral of the dispute through the International Labour Organization, contributing the Canadian labour context to the international union submissions before the Court, and supporting the legal effort financially.

“The Stakes for workers around the world were enormous,” said Lily Chang, the CLC’s Secretary Treasurer and Governing Body Member of the International Labour Organization. “Workers cannot have meaningful freedom of association or collective bargaining without the right to strike, and this ruling makes that crystal clear.”

The ruling comes at a critical moment as workers in Canada face growing pressure on collective bargaining rights and job action.

In Alberta, Danielle Smith’s provincial government used the notwithstanding clause to override Charter-protected rights of striking teachers. Federally, the government has increasingly used section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to break legal strikes and weaken workers’ bargaining power. Unions in federally-regulated industries are warning that the government’s broad and rushed consultations on changes to the Labour Code could further restrict the ability of workers to take job action.

The CLC says the ICJ ruling should serve as a clear warning to governments considering changes to labour laws in Canada.

“This ruling must be a line in the sand,” said Bruske. “The Canadian Labour Code cannot become a tool to erode one of the most fundamental democratic rights workers possess. The right to strike must be protected, respected, and upheld.”

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To arrange an interview, please contact:
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613-526-7426

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Held under the theme “Canada’s Unions: We Build, We Care, We Fight,” this year’s Convention will take place over several days, bringing delegates together to debate resolutions on the issues that matter most to workers. They will vote on key policy priorities, help shape the direction of the movement for the years ahead.

Discussions throughout the week will focus on the most pressing challenges facing workers today, including protecting good jobs, tackling the housing and health care crises, addressing affordability, advancing climate action, strengthening the care economy, and defending democracy and workers’ rights.

The Convention will also feature a strong lineup of guest speakers and panelists and international guests.

What:           CLC 31^st Constitutional Convention
When:          May 11–15, 2026
Where:         RBC Convention Centre, Winnipeg

*Some key moments will be livestreamed here.

A full agenda is available at: https://canadianlabour.ca/buildcarefight/

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Media accreditation and inquiries: 
CLC Media Relations 
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The post Canada’s unions gather in Winnipeg to set workers’ agenda in uncertain times — The CLC’s 31st constitutional convention appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

 The CLC is deeply concerned by and strongly condemns the escalating cycle of violence launched by the United States and Israel against Iran and by Iran’s retaliatory strikes across the region. Continued hostilities will only deepen instability and insecurity across the Middle East and will not bring peace or democracy to the region.

The actions taken by the United States and Israel reflect a frightening and reckless pattern of relying on unilateral military force and coercive measures to exert political influence – a pattern we have seen in places such as Venezuela and Ukraine. Our position is clear: the United States and Israel are violating international law by committing the crime of aggression against a sovereign state. The UN Charter explicitly prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. International law must be respected.

Regime change cannot be imposed by force, and the people of Iran have the right to determine their own future, free from external aggression and internal repression. The right to self-determination is universal.

We welcome Prime Minister Carney’s clarification of his position regarding the US and Israel’s aggression against Iran and support his call for a “rapid de-escalation of hostilities” in the region. Canada must stand firmly on the side of international law, diplomacy, and respect for the sovereignty of nations. We call for an urgent return to diplomacy and peaceful negotiations in the Middle East, including:

• An immediate ceasefire and full de-escalation by all parties;

• Strict respect for international law and the UN Charter;
• A renewed commitment to nuclear disarmament and regional security arrangements based on dialogue; and
• Full respect for freedom of expression, freedom of association, and democratic rights across the region.

In times of war and uncertainty, the labour movement’s role is clear: to stand with working people, to defend international solidarity, and to insist that peace, justice, and democracy cannot be built through violence.

The post Statement from Bea Bruske: Canada’s unions call for de-escalation and diplomacy in Iran appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

The U.S. declaration of Cuba as an “Unusual and Extraordinary Threat to the Security of the U.S.” and the imposition of a fuel blockade are bullying tactics that violate the UN Charter and the rights of Cuba to national sovereignty and self-determination.

Victim of the decades-long economic sanctions by the United States, Cuba now faces extensive hardship under Trump’s fuel blockade. Prior to the U.S. takeover, Venezuela provided a significant portion of Cuba’s fuel needs. That source has been cut off, and the U.S. further threatens to sanction any country that provides fuel to Cuba. The consequences are severe. The country’s health and hospitals, electricity generation, sanitation and water systems, transportation, and food production and distribution are all impacted.

“Trump’s action to impose collective punishment against the people of Cuba is cruel and inhumane and a violation of basic human decency,” says CLC President Bea Bruske.

The CLC calls on the Government of Canada to stand with Cuba and defend the Cuban people’s rights to sovereignty and self-determination.

We call on the Government of Canada to vigorously denounce U.S. aggression and defend the principles of international law. The U.S. must remove the fuel blockade and end the economic embargo against Cuba.

We further demand that the Government of Canada act swiftly to provide immediate humanitarian aid to the people of Cuba.

The CLC is a member of the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas, please see their statement, Urgent Solidarity with the Cuban People.

The post Solidarity with Cuba appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Canada’s unions are marking International Human Rights Day by urging the federal government to ensure that the pursuit of Canada’s economic prosperity does not come at the expense of human rights.

Workers around the world are facing precarity due to ongoing global conflicts, trade wars, artificial intelligence, and climate change. These issues are reshaping labour markets, raising new equity challenges, and worsening existing ones.

Here in Canada, workers are shouldering the greatest pressure from the Carney government’s response to Donald Trump’s escalating trade war. While the government acted quickly on Trump’s demands by boosting spending on border control and military defence, workers and their families continue to face deteriorating public services, widening inequities, and a growing affordability crisis.

The 2025 Federal Budget does take important steps to support workers in sectors directly hit by tariffs and trade disruption, and that progress matters. But millions of Canadians who are struggling right now still need meaningful relief. A truly worker-focused approach would pair trade-related support with bold investments in public and social infrastructure, affordability measures, and policies that strengthen economic security for everyone.

The budget indicated no additional investments to implement Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy or continue the important work of the Federal Anti-Racism Secretariat. Canada’s unions urge the government to ensure ongoing funding for these to address and mitigate the impacts of systemic racism that many workers face.

The Liberals’ election platform promised a review of Carney’s government policies and programs using an intersectional lens to understand the potential impacts of these on Canadians in all their diversity, but no action has been taken.

This is evident in the introduction of regressive legislation such as bills C-2 and C-12, which pose significant threats to freedoms and civil liberties, migrant and refugee rights and the privacy of all Canadians. These Bills are concerning, as they come at a time when Canada seeks to secure and deepen trade relationships with several governments for whom gender equality is decidedly not a priority, and with poor records for respecting human rights and labour rights. Canada must negotiate strong labour chapters in all trade agreements to ensure fair working conditions, enforce labour standards, protect workers’ freedom of association rights and prevent forced labour as Canada works to diversify its trade relationships.

In a time of global uncertainty when workers and their families are facing real pressures and rapid change, Canada needs a government that strengthens our foundations.

A responsible government should be focused on building a stronger, more resilient Canada by protecting the rules-based order, advancing economic and social progress, and ensuring every person can live and work with dignity. That means standing up to bad actors, reinforcing the systems that keep our economy stable, and investing in the people who make this country work.

The post A thriving economy shouldn’t cost us our human rights appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“Our labour movement remains deeply committed to the fight for a barrier-free Canada that is truly accessible for everyone and all abilities. This includes drastically reducing the economic barriers disproportionately faced by persons with disabilities in our country,” said Lily Chang, Secretary-Treasurer of the Canadian Labour Congress.

Currently, more than 1.5 million people with disabilities in Canada are living below the poverty line. Moreover, women with disabilities experience poverty at a higher rate (17.7%) than men with disabilities (15.7%); and people aged 65 and above with disabilities had higher poverty rates (18.8%) than people with disabilities aged 15 to 64 (15.9%).

The employment situation for persons with disabilities is not much better either. About 1/3 of people with disabilities looking for work are shut out of today’s labour force, and the employment outlook is most dire for racialized people with disabilities. Those who are employed report experiencing disproportionately high levels of harassment and violence in the workplace (75%), alongside an hourly wage gap that has widened from $1.91 in 2023 to $2.22 in 2024. This is a weekly wage gap of $115.20, or almost $6,000 per year!

“Disability rights and economic justice for people with disabilities across Canada have always been, and will always unequivocally be, workers’ issues,” said Chang.

Despite the welcome introduction of the Canada Disability Benefit earlier this year, the relatively low benefit amount of only $200 a month, restrictive eligibility criteria, separate application process, and the risk of provincial claw-backs have resulted in a benefit that does little to meaningfully address the enormous socio-economic barriers facing millions of persons with disabilities in this country.   

While the 2025 federal budget included a small $150 top-up and tax exemption, it still falls short of delivering real change for Canadians with disabilities. This is why the CLC will continue to work alongside disability rights and justice advocates across the country in demanding immediate action from our federal government to shape a better benefit that truly lifts people with disabilities out of poverty.

“Canada’s unions are holding this government accountable and demanding they fulfill their promises and human rights obligations to make the eradication of disability poverty a reality in this country,” said Chang.

The post Canada’s unions echo the call: End disability poverty now appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

This award is named in honour of Carol McGregor, an outstanding disability rights activist, member of NUPGE and the CLC Disability Rights Working Group―and who was much loved by all those who worked with her. Carol passed away in 2006.

In 2025, the award recognizes the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Canada activist Stephannie Leach. 

Stephannie is an inspiring leader in our labour movement who has tirelessly advocated for the rights of workers with disabilities in Alberta and in the Northwest Territories. Stephannie’s leadership in this area spanned both her involvement in her workplace and in her union, UFCW Canada Local 401.

As an employee of Vision Loss Rehabilitation Alberta, and a vision impaired worker herself, Stephannie travelled across the province and in the Northwest Territories to provide education to remote and rural communities about vision loss and accessibility awareness, as well as education about guide dogs and service animals. She also trains people with vision impairment to work with their service animals, to access public transit, and to get around their own homes.

Stephannie serves on her local bargaining committee, and she is the health and safety representative for her union in northern Alberta. Thanks to her successful advocacy efforts, the company agreed to bereavement days for the loss of service animals. 

As a trailblazing advocate, she also took the initiative to translate the collective agreement into braille, the first of its kind at her union!

As a dedicated champion for disability rights and inclusion of people with disabilities in her union, in her workplace, and in her communities, Stephannie perfectly embodies the spirit of this award.  

Congratulations to Stephannie and thank you for your leadership and activism for disability rights and inclusion.

The post Stephannie Leach – Winner of the 2025 Carol McGregor CLC Disability Rights Award appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Gender-based violence and harassment continue to threaten the safety, dignity, and equality of women and gender-diverse workers. The CLC’s own research revealed that gender diverse workers (82%) and women (76%) experience higher rates of harassment and violence at work compared to their colleagues. In addition, a recent report on harassment and violence in Canadian workplaces revealed 843 reported occurrences of third-party (meaning clients, patients, customers, etc.) violence and harassment in 2022, reflecting a whopping 41% increase from 2021.

“These are not just numbers,” said Siobhán Vipond, Executive Vice President of the CLC. “They reflect the alarming, daily reality of workers whose safety and dignity are still at risk. They tell the story of a crisis that demands action, now.”

There are several factors contributing to this increase in third-party violence and harassment. People are facing mounting pressures from a worsening affordability crisis, with scarce resources to address their needs. Staffing shortages and systems stretched too thin may also impact the way people interact with front-line workers, leading to dangerous situations for these workers.

Moreover, in recent years, we have seen some conservative political leaders stoke fear, anger and hate to distract from their lack of solutions. This emboldens third parties to harass workers in public-facing jobs, disproportionately targeting 2SLGBTQI+ workers, Black, racialized, Indigenous workers, and those with disabilities at an alarming rate.

Despite unions sounding the alarm, the federal government has yet to work with provinces, territories, unions and employers to meaningfully implement ILO C-190, the world’s first global treaty to eliminate violence and harassment in the world of work.

“While governments delay, the labour movement is taking action. Across the country, Canada’s unions are leading the fight to end gender-based violence through collective bargaining, education, and political action,” adds Vipond.

While we are proud of the workers and activists who are fighting every day to make workplaces and communities safer, fairer, and more inclusive, unions cannot do it alone.

We are calling on all levels of government to make work safer for everyone by:

• Coordinating a tripartite national strategy to implement ILO C-190 that includes measures to address the specific challenge of growing violence and harassment from third parties; and

• Conducting a national public awareness campaign about third-party violence and harassment as part of Canada’s National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence and the implementation strategy for ILO C190.

“Canada’s unions will continue to rise up, to demand accountability from those in power, and to fight for a future where every worker is safe, respected, and free from violence and harassment,” said Vipond.

Check out the CLC’s research on violence and harassment at work here.

The post Canada’s Unions Rise Up Against Gender-Based Violence appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Doubling the Union Training and Innovation Program is a smart investment in Canada’s future. Unions deliver the most comprehensive, advanced, and high-quality training in the country and provide direct pathways to good union jobs. With this expansion, we can train the skilled workers Canada urgently needs to meet our infrastructure, housing, and clean-energy goals.

The new Hero Tax Credit for personal support workers will deliver long-overdue relief to some of the lowest-paid yet most essential workers in our health-care system. These workers care for people through the hardest years of our lives, and they deserve real recognition and respect.

We also welcome the consultation on restricting non-compete clauses, and would like to see greater steps toward fairness in the workplace, including strengthening workers’ ability to form unions, raise wages, and strengthen the quality of their jobs.

Finally, the $97-million fund for faster foreign credential recognition — especially in health care and construction — is a practical and positive measure that will help ensure newcomers can put their skills to work sooner.

These measures signal a shift toward putting workers at the heart of Canada’s economic strategy. Canada’s unions will work with the government to ensure we can build on this momentum by investing in good union jobs, expanding public services, and ensuring every worker shares in the prosperity they help create.

The post Bruske on pre-budget measures: When government listens to workers, we see progress appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

OTTAWA – Prime Minister Carney is right to say that Canada faces uncertainty, but for many workers, that uncertainty is now a reality.

Across the country, workers are being squeezed by an affordability and housing crisis, job losses tied to the ongoing trade war with the United States, and growing anxiety about what AI and automation will mean for their livelihoods. These are not abstract challenges; they’re daily realities for families trying to keep food on the table, pay rent, and build a better life.

The Prime Minister spoke today about “spending less and investing more.” Canada’s unions agree that investment is key — but workers cannot be asked to pay the price through cuts to the public services and supports their families rely on. You don’t build resilience by hollowing out the very systems that help people weather hard times.

If the government is looking for fiscal room, it should start with those who can afford it — the corporations and CEOs who have seen record profits while workers struggle to get ahead. Over the last several years, corporate profit margins have soared, while wage growth has barely kept pace with inflation. Closing tax loopholes, tackling corporate concentration, and ensuring profitable companies pay their fair share are far better choices than cutting the services that workers and their families rely on and keep communities strong and resilient.

Canada’s unions also urge the government to make bold investments that secure good jobs and strengthen our economic foundations — by rebuilding domestic manufacturing, supporting public infrastructure, and developing a climate strategy that delivers for workers as well as the planet. That includes retraining and upskilling programs, industrial policy that rewards employers who create union jobs, and a Just Transition plan that leaves no worker or community behind.

We welcome any effort to invest in sustainable growth and a modern industrial strategy that builds Canadian capacity and strengthens our communities. But those investments must include workers — at the table, not on the sidelines — to ensure they create good, union jobs and secure futures in every region of this country.

Canada’s unions are ready to work with the government to grow our economy through fairness — not austerity. Together, we can build a Canada that works for working people.

The post Statement by Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

The workers-first forum brought leadership candidates Avi Lewis, Heather McPherson, Rob Ashton, Tanille Johnston, and Tony McQuail together to engage directly with worker concerns. Moderated by CLC President Bea Bruske, the event gathered more than 150 union members, NDP supporters, and labour leaders in person – and thousands more online.

“This leadership race is about building a stronger NDP, one grounded in the needs of working people and ready to deliver for families across the country,” said Bea Bruske.

As Canadians grapple with high costs, increasingly precarious jobs, and Trump’s trade war, unions see the leadership race as a key opportunity to renew the party’s connection to the workers it was founded to serve.

“What we heard from the candidates was encouraging; a real commitment to put workers first,” Bruske added. “The message is clear: workers will have a strong voice in Canada’s political future.”

Canada’s unions are committed to strengthening the party and ensuring workers continue to lead the way forward. Yesterday’s forum sets the tone for the leadership race ahead and affirms that the NDP’s future is tied to its roots in the labour movement. 

The Canadian Labour Congress is the largest labour organization in Canada, representing over 3 million workers through affiliated unions, federations of labour, and labour councils across the country.

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To arrange an interview, please contact:
CLC Media Relations
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613-526-7426

The post Canada’s unions put workers at the heart of NDP leadership race appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

The forum will bring together Avi Lewis, Heather McPherson, Rob Ashton, Tanille Johnston, and Tony McQuail for a series of moderated discussions focused on their vision and leadership approach for Canada’s NDP.

Moderated by CLC President Bea Bruske, each candidate will have the opportunity to speak for ten minutes, offering voters and workers an opportunity to hear, directly and in detail, how the next NDP leader plans to deliver real results for working people.

“Workers built this party, and Canada’s unions are here to make sure it stays focused on delivering for them. This forum is about putting working people at the heart of the leadership conversation.” – Bea Bruske, CLC President

WHAT:
Worker-First Forum with NDP Leadership Candidates

WHEN:         
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 – 6:00 to 7:00 PM ET (Doors open: 5:30 PM ET)

LIVESTREAM UPDATE:
Due to significant public interest, with more than 1,500 registrants, the event will now be livestreamed on YouTube rather than Zoom. *Please note the page will only be live tomorrow right before the event. Feel free to share this new livestream information widely.
– French livestream: noustravaillonsensemble.ca/diffusion-en-direct
– English livestream: workerstogether.ca/livestream

MEDIA RSVP:
If you would like to attend in person, please send an email to media@clcctc.ca with your full name and outlet affiliation.

WHO:

Moderator
Bea Bruske – President, Canadian Labour Congress

NDP Leadership Candidates
Avi Lewis – Journalist, Activist, Associate Professor
Heather McPherson – NDP MP
Rob Ashton – President, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada (ILWU)
Tanille Johnston – Director of Community Programs with the First Nations Health Authority, City Councillor in Campbell River.
Tony McQuail – Huron County organic farmer

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To arrange an interview, please contact: 
CLC Media Relations 
media@clcctc.ca 
613-526-7426

The post Workers first: The CLC hosts a forum with NDP leadership candidates appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Happy Labour Day. Today, we celebrate the power of workers — past, present, and future. It was workers who won weekends, universal health care, pensions, unemployment insurance, parental leave, pay equity, and health and safety laws. And it will be workers who win the next generation of rights, protections, and fairness. 

This year gave us a powerful reminder of that truth. Just hours after Air Canada flight attendants began their strike, Prime Minister Carney tried to crush it by invoking Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code — at the behest of Air Canada’s CEO. This Trump-style attack on workers is not what Canadians expect from their newly elected Prime Minister.  

But CUPE flight attendants knew their rights. They defied the order, forced Air Canada back to the bargaining table, and bargained a deal. The lesson is clear: workers will not and should not be taken for granted. 

This victory comes at a critical moment — because inequality in Canada is beginning to look like it did during the first Gilded Age more than a century ago. Back then, a handful of robber barons hoarded unimaginable wealth while workers endured 12-hour shifts in unsafe factories, living in poverty with little protection and no voice. Governments bent to corporate power, and working people paid the price. 

Today, we see similar patterns. The richest 100 CEOs in Canada now make 243 times more than the average worker. Grocery giants are posting record profits while families cut back on food. Oil and gas companies are pocketing billions while Canadians struggle with heating bills. Banks make excessive profits while workers struggle with high interest rates. And public services — the very tools that make life affordable and fair — are under attack from government austerity. 

The parallels with the Gilded Age are chilling: extreme concentration of wealth, corporations writing the rules, and politicians rigging the system in favour of employers and against workers. 

But history also teaches us how to break this cycle. The antidote to runaway greed has always been the same: unions. In the last Gilded Age, it was workers organizing and building solidarity that won health and safety laws, shorter work hours, weekends, pensions, and the foundation of Canada’s public services. Every gain was won by workers standing together and forcing change. 

Today, the solution is no different. We need more unions. We need to organize harder. We need stronger worker power so that no government dares to trample on our rights again, and no corporation can treat workers as disposable while handing out huge bonuses to their executives. Because when workers join together, we don’t just win for ourselves — we lift entire communities. We strengthen public services. We build fairer economies. We create a more just society. 

This Labour Day, let’s not just look back at past victories. Let’s look forward. Let’s commit to organizing in the face of corporate greed. Let’s commit to growing the labour movement, defending free collective bargaining, and building worker power strong enough to end this new Gilded Age once and for all. 

Happy Labour Day. Workers together, we’re organizing. Together, we’re mobilizing. Together, we’re building the future workers deserve.

The post Happy Labour Day: Workers’ Power Is the Answer to the New Gilded Age appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Prime Minister Carney’s government chose to impose Section 107 just hours after the strike began—an unprecedented and heavy-handed move to tilt the scales in the employer’s favour. With the backing of the entire labour movement, CUPE stood its ground, defied the order, and forced the company back to the bargaining table—where a fair deal was reached. The outcome makes one thing clear: Section 107 is no longer a reliable weapon for employers.

By refusing to bow to government interference, CUPE flight attendants exposed Section 107 for what it is: an unconstitutional violation of workers’ Charter-protected right to free and fair collective bargaining. Any employer thinking of leaning on Section 107 in the future should think twice—it’s a crutch that just snapped.

Deals are made where they should be—at the bargaining table. That’s good for workers, good for communities, and good for building lasting relationships between unions and employers. The entire labour movement is grateful to flight attendants for their strength and perseverance in standing firm for these rights.

The last 24 hours have shown that Section 107 is unconstitutional, unenforceable, and corrosive to free collective bargaining. Canada’s unions are calling for its removal from the Canada Labour Code. We urge all parties in Parliament to make this a priority in the upcoming fall session—because protecting workers’ Charter rights should never be optional, and employers must never again be allowed to rely on Section 107 to delay or deny fair bargaining.

The lesson from this strike is undeniable: workers win when they fight, and collective agreements are made through negotiation, not government-imposed edicts. Section 107 has been dealt a blow it shouldn’t recover from—and that’s good news for every worker in Canada.

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To arrange an interview, please contact: 
CLC Media Relations 
media@clcctc.ca 
613-526-7426 

The post CUPE flight attendants prove bargaining, not Carney’s Section 107, delivers deals appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Time and time again, he’s targeted our industries, our livelihoods, and the communities that keep this country running. The mere instability caused by his unpredictable attacks has made investment decisions impossible—hurting both workers and our industries.

Let me be clear: Canada does not cave. We do not retreat. And we will not be intimidated.

To our governments:

Appeasement does not work. In response to Trump’s demands, Canada has spent millions to address border issues, we rescinded our digital services tax, and scaled back counter-tariffs. Like a bully, Trump’s only response to Canada’s good-faith efforts is nothing but escalation.

This is a moment for strength. A moment to meet Trump’s aggression with the full force of Canada’s resolve. We need urgent action now:

• Impose counter-tariffs in response to the latest tariff attacks from Trump.
• Introduce export taxes on Canadian energy sold to the U.S.
• Mandate that all national infrastructure projects use Canadian steel, aluminum, and lumber.
• Invest directly in affected workers and communities by enhancing Employment Insurance, expanding Work-Sharing, and providing emergency income supports.
• Launch ambitious, nation-building projects like affordable housing, clean energy, and public transit that create union jobs and build Canadian resilience.

We must stop reacting and start leading. Canada’s workers are ready to stand up for this country. It’s time our governments stood with them, with boldness and with urgency.

To every worker in Canada:

This won’t be easy. There will be disruptions. Some of us will face layoffs. And there will be those who try to divide us.

But Canadian workers are not strangers to hard times. We know how to fight—and we know how to win. So, let’s hold strong. Buy union-made. Support local. Stand with your union. Get involved in your community. Reject division and stand together, shoulder to shoulder. Because when Canadian workers rise together, no one can take us down.

Donald Trump may think he can rattle us. But what he doesn’t understand is that Canadians don’t back down, we rise up. We fight for our jobs, our families, and our future.

The post Statement from Bea Bruske: Trump’s 35% Tariffs Demand a Bold Response appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Dear Prime Minister: 

On behalf of Canada’s unions, I am writing about the unspeakable situation in Gaza and what can only be described as genocide. The October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas was an atrocity. The collective punishment being inflicted on millions of Palestinians in response is a crime of historic scale. 

In June, Canada’s unions called on your government to take several actions to address the horror of what is unfolding in Gaza. The first of which was recognizing Palestinian statehood. 

On behalf of the Canadian Labour Congress, and the more than three million workers we represent, I want to commend you for your recent announcement that Canada will recognize Palestinian statehood. Recognizing Palestine cannot be a reward at the end of negotiations. It is a precondition to the start of a real peace process. In the face of immense human suffering, it is important to see Canada recommit itself to the principles of international law, human dignity and peace. Thank you. 

Recognition of Palestinian statehood is a critical first step, but it alone will not stop the suffering in Gaza. 

Nearly 22 months into this war, more than 60,000 Palestinian people are dead, including more than 15,000 children. The 2.1 million Palestinians in Gaza face starvation and indiscriminate bombardment. Three million more in the West Bank suffer daily humiliation, violence, and a systemic campaign of land confiscation and settlement expansion. 

Canada must take further steps to build on the recognition of Palestinian statehood to end the suffering in Gaza and bring a peaceful resolution. Canada’s unions outlined these steps in our June Letter. 

Finally, Canada must work to strengthen democracy to deliver peace now. Hamas will not be defeated by Netanyahu. Hamas will be defeated by the Palestinian people if they have hope for a free and peaceful future with decent jobs and social and economic security. 

Palestinians need autonomy. They need rights. They need recognition. Israel rightly demands security guarantees, and that demand must be met. But peace cannot be built on subjugation. 

I also share this open letter from Luc Triangle, the General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), released earlier this week. The ITUC is the global voice of working people and includes both Israel’s Histadrut and the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) amongst its affiliates. The CLC is a member of the ITUC and supports the calls to action in this letter. 

Prime Minister, Canada has an opportunity and a responsibility to be a force for peace. Thank you for your commitment to recognizing Palestinian statehood. There are those who will seek to weaken the growing international consensus that the horror of what is occurring in Gaza must stop. It is important to remain resolute in the face of that pressure. Our commitment to diplomacy, international law, and human rights must guide our actions towards a just and lasting resolution. 

The full letter is available here.

The post Canada’s unions applaud recognition of Palestinian statehood and urge further action to end the crisis in Gaza appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

The Handala, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was carrying vital humanitarian aid to Gaza, along with 21 peaceful activists committed to human rights and international solidarity.

Among those unlawfully detained are several trade unionists:

• Hatem Laouini, Tunisian trade unionist from the UGTT and representative of UNI Global Union in the Arab region.
• Christian Smalls, founder of the Amazon Labor Union in the United States.
• Santiago González Vallejo, Spanish economist and retired trade unionist attached to the USO International Action Secretariat.

This unjustified detention constitutes a grave violation of international law, an assault on the peaceful defence of human rights, and a direct threat to trade unionists’ right to engage in international solidarity.

The presence of respected union leaders on this mission underscores the global labour movement’s unwavering commitment to peace, human rights and solidarity with the Palestinian people.

ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle said: “We are witnessing ever-escalating series of atrocities in Gaza. Since late May, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed trying to access food. The entire population in Gaza is facing starvation under Israel’s illegal blockade.”

“While the international community is knowingly standing by and watching the mass killing and starvation unfold, these courageous activists undertook brave action to deliver critical humanitarian aid directly to Palestinians in Gaza, including baby milk formula, nappies, food and medicine. The world is in a moral crisis. These people should not be arrested but immediately released. Humanitarian aid should not be blocked, but allowed to reach Gaza without obstruction, and the people of Gaza must be able to peacefully access these supplies.”

The ITUC urgently calls for:

• The immediate and unconditional release of all those detained, including our trade union colleagues.
• International condemnation of Israel’s obstruction of a peaceful, humanitarian mission.
• Robust protection for trade unionists and other activists engaging in solidarity action to uphold fundamental human rights and international law.

The ITUC stands in full solidarity with the Handala mission and all those on board. We reaffirm our unwavering support for the Palestinian people and the right of workers everywhere to engage in peaceful activism.

The Canadian Labour Congress is a member of the ITUC.

The post Gaza: ITUC condemns Israeli interception of Handala solidarity boat and arrest of trade unionists appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Today, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Canada’s premiers are meeting to discuss the impact of Trump’s trade war on Canada. Workers should be front and centre for Canada’s leaders.

This trade war has already taken a major toll on Canada’s workers. We are losing jobs or working reduced hours. The cost of living keeps increasing. The unemployment rate is at 7% nationally, and in the regions most directly impacted by steel and auto tariffs, it’s in the double digits. We have not seen any progress on the EI enhancements promised in the Liberal platform, but we’re seeing deeper-than-promised cuts to the public services we rely on. Nation-building projects have yet to be announced, and the government has been silent on any plans to build affordable housing.

The government has taken significant steps in quickly changing laws, spending new money on border control and defence, and hastily acting on Trump’s demands against Canada’s Digital Services Tax. But the same vigour is nowhere to be found when it comes to support for workers. Worse still, workers are only finding out about the state of negotiations through Truth Social posts or Trump’s press secretary.

As we approach the August 1^st deadline, workers are rightfully worried. We are worried about whether there will be a deal or whether we will face a 35% tariff. We are worried that the government appears to be preparing us so that even with a deal, we will continue to see tariffs on our products. We are worried about the concessions that the government has already given to Trump and what else they might be willing to give up to appease the American president.

We welcome the government’s recent extension of the temporary adjustment to Employment Insurance regional unemployment and the training support for steel workers. But more needs to be done. To date, government support for workers pales in comparison to its robust support for industry.

Canada’s unions are demanding urgent action from the government to:

• Include workers and their unions in discussions about the trade war. We are the backbone of the economy, and we should be included in these important discussions.
• Invest directly in affected workers and communities by robustly and immediately enhancing Employment Insurance, expanding Work-Sharing, and providing emergency income supports.
• Launch a new wage with job guarantees subsidy for businesses in affected sectors to protect workers affected by tariffs.
• Launch ambitious, nation-building projects and public infrastructure using Canadian materials to create good union jobs and build Canadian resilience.
• Impose counter-tariffs in response to the latest tariff attacks from Trump and use every dollar collected to support Canadian workers and businesses affected by the trade war, and;
• Ensure that new trade deals uphold Canadian values, including labour and environmental standards.

Defending Canada against Trump’s trade war is not a solo mission. It requires a Team Canada approach with workers and their unions playing a central role on the team.

The post Council of the Federation must focus on the impact of the trade war on workers appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Tomorrow, Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, is joining Liz Shuler, President of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), and Yasmin Fahimi, President of the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB), to discuss strategies in defending workers and their jobs in the face of economic turmoil.

The meetings bring together senior union leaders and policy experts to discuss a worker-centred approach to trade, industrial policy, and supply chain resilience in the face of growing geopolitical and economic threats.

Bea Bruske is available for media interviews to speak about:

• The impact of Trump’s tariff threat on Canadian and North American workers;
• Why global labour solidarity is critical in resisting austerity;
• How unions are building a transatlantic agenda to protect jobs and industries;

Quote:

“In a time of growing uncertainty and division, workers are showing what real global leadership looks like. Together with our union allies in the U.S. and Germany, we’re advancing a shared vision for an economy built on dignity, fairness, and international solidarity.” Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress.

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To arrange an interview with Bea Bruske, please contact:  
CLC Media Relations  
media@clcctc.ca  
613-526-7426 

The post CLC President Bea Bruske in Washington for labour meetings amidst trade war  appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Prime Minister Carney’s instruction to cabinet to identify deep operational savings is a dangerous step in the wrong direction, one that puts critical public services and the workers who deliver them on the chopping block.

We’ve already seen nearly 10,000 federal jobs lost in the past year, with thousands of more workers in limbo. Now the government is considering cuts of up to 15% in some departments, risking the most significant downsizing of Canada’s public service at a time when the Prime Minister is committing to significant new spending on defence and tax cuts for the rich.

Public services can always be improved, and the workers who deliver those important services know how to make them better. However, across-the-board cuts will only harm the services Canadians rely on and the workers who provide them. Past rounds of austerity have undermined public services and increased government spending on costly external contractors.

Canada’s public service is one of the most efficient public service administrations in the world. Measured as a percentage of the population, the federal public service is smaller than it was in the 1980s, despite providing more services and serving a significantly older population.

At a time when Canadian workers are bracing for the economic impact of Trump’s reckless trade war, the federal government should lean in, not pull back. Trump’s attacks will have real impacts in communities across Canada, especially in manufacturing, steel, aluminum, and supply chain jobs. These workers and their families will need more support, not less. Slashing public services in the middle of an economic downturn will only make things worse. Adding thousands more to the growing ranks of the unemployed will further weaken our economy.

Canada’s unions will not sit idly while workers and public services are put at risk. The intended cuts to government spending are the worst round of austerity we’ve seen since 1995, when Paul Martin’s budget slashed transfers for health care, killed affordable housing programs, and gutted support systems Canadians depended on. If we’re facing a housing crisis, healthcare strain and woefully inadequate EI today, we can trace those problems back to Paul Martin’s austerity budget.

We urge Prime Minister Carney and his cabinet to change course, protect public services, and ensure that workers and communities come first.

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To arrange an interview, please contact:
CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca
613-526-7426

The post Canada’s unions warn against austerity appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Canada’s unions are deeply disappointed — and profoundly concerned — by Minister Hajdu’s decision to impose a vote on Canada Post’s final offers. Let’s be clear: the strongest, most lasting agreements are reached at the bargaining table, not forced through governmental interference.

This decision is more than just a misstep; it is a serious violation of the principles of free collective bargaining. Instead of remaining neutral, the Federal Government is once again acting on behalf of Canada Post, undermining CUPW’s right to be the sole and exclusive bargaining agent for its members. Rather than supporting fair, good-faith bargaining between parties, the Government continues the troubling union-busting trend we’ve seen from both Liberal and Conservative governments. When the government signals to employers that they can drag out negotiations and then be rewarded with a legislative shortcut, it undermines the foundation of fair and meaningful bargaining. It sends a dangerous message: that employers don’t need to bargain in good faith, they just need to wait it out.

This is unacceptable. It erodes workers’ Charter-protected rights and sets a damaging precedent for all unionized workers in this country. 

Canada’s unions will not stand by while this happens. We will not watch silently as public services are dismantled and workers are pushed aside.

CUPW members are fighting for more than just a contract. They’re standing up for the future of Canada Post, and for the next generation of workers who risk being pushed into gig-style, precarious jobs. If we want to stop the race to the bottom in wages and working conditions, we should be standing with them, not sidelining them.

Canada Post already has what no other private company does: a presence in every community in Canada. While big banks abandon rural towns, Canada Post remains. So why aren’t we investing in innovations like postal banking, which could deliver financial services where they’re needed most?

Canadians are ready for bold, nation-building ideas. Strengthening Canada Post should be one of them. Canada’s unions will not let outdated management strategies tear it down.

Canada Post isn’t just a service. It’s a public institution. It’s a pillar of good, unionized jobs and a vital link for communities across the country. Undermining it is a disservice to us all.

The federal government must respect the collective bargaining process. It must work with workers to build a Canada Post that delivers for the future.

The post Postal workers deserve a fair deal, not government interference appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

We welcome the recent joint statement by our heads of state calling for an immediate halt to Israel’s assault in Gaza and for unimpeded access to humanitarian aid.

These are critical first steps toward alleviating the suffering of civilians caught in the conflict.

Our governments rightly acknowledged that permanent forced displacement is a breach of international humanitarian law, and we welcome their opposition to settlement expansion and the recognition that it is illegal and undermines the viability of a Palestinian state.

However, words must be matched by action.

Given the urgency and scale of the crisis, we call on our governments to use every diplomatic, legal, and economic lever available to:

• Demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire;
• Ensure the Israeli government meets its obligations under international humanitarian law;
• Initiate a credible political process aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace

It’s time for our leaders to formally recognise the State of Palestine immediately.

As members of the G7, doing so would send a powerful signal, particularly in the lead-up to the UN conference co-chaired by France in mid-June.

The time for decisive action is now. The need for justice, peace, and recognition has never been more urgent.

Link to the official letter sent to the Prime Minister here

The post Joint statement from French, British, and Canadian unions appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Canada has a responsibility to stand up for international law, human rights, and the dignity of all people. That means recognizing Palestinian statehood, supporting a two-way arms embargo, ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid, and ending trade with illegal Israeli settlements.

Workers in Canada expect their government to show leadership rooted in justice, accountability, and peace.

Read the full letter below:

Dear Prime Minister Carney,

Re: Gaza

On behalf of the Canadian Labour Congress and the more than three million workers we represent, I want to commend you for your recent joint statement with the leaders of France and the United Kingdom calling for a complete stop to military operations in Gaza and the immediate facilitation of humanitarian aid. In a moment of immense human suffering and growing global instability, it is good to see Canada recommit itself to the principles of international law, human dignity, and peace.

Words matter, and your statement was an important signal. But words must be followed by concrete action.

We urge your government to build on this moment by taking the following steps:

• Recognize Palestinian statehood: Canada has long supported a two-state solution, and recognition of Palestinian statehood is a necessary step toward making that vision a reality.
• Support a two-way arms embargo: The violence and suffering will not end if weapons continue to flow into the region. Canada must support an immediate two-way arms embargo to stop fueling the conflict. We urge the government to work with trade unions representing workers in the impacted arms and technology industries to develop a just transition plan to secure their livelihoods.
• Continue funding UN agencies, including UNRWA: Humanitarian agencies need immediate, unrestricted access to Gaza. Canada should encourage allies to renew and increase support to UNRWA and other UN bodies to deliver life-saving aid to civilians who are facing starvation, displacement, and disease.
• Impose targeted sanctions on individuals responsible for violations of international law and human rights. Canada must apply a consistent and principled approach to accountability, no matter the actor.
• Cancel the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA) and prohibit all trade with illegal Israeli settlements. The CLC has long called for a ban on goods produced in Israeli settlements and for mandatory labeling to distinguish such goods from those made within Israel’s internationally recognized borders.

Beyond these urgent measures, we call on you to coordinate international leadership to:

• Secure a permanent ceasefire;
• Ensure the immediate release of all remaining Israeli hostages, and the bodies of those that have tragically passed away;
• Reaffirm unwavering support for a negotiated two-state solution as the only path to lasting peace and stability; and
• Reopen the Israeli labour market to Palestinian workers, and advocate that back wages be paid to the more than 200,000 affected workers.

Prime Minister, Canada has an opportunity and a responsibility to be a voice for peace. In times of conflict, our commitment to diplomacy, international law, and human rights must guide our actions toward a just and lasting resolution.

Yours sincerely,

Bea Bruske
President

The post Canada’s unions urge the government to take action to help end the crisis in Gaza appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“2SLGBTQI+ workers make enormous contributions to our workplaces, unions and communities,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “Today, and every day, Canada’s unions show our pride by celebrating and fiercely defending the vibrant diversity within our movement.”

We know from research that a 2SLGBTQI-inclusive workforce builds a strong economy. However, the opposite is also true – the discrimination and exclusion that many 2SLGBTQI+ workers face at work and in society have negative impacts on a country’s economic development and prosperity. 

Unfortunately, today’s affordability crisis impacts 2SLGBTQI+ people disproportionately. In 2023:

• 40.7% of 2SLGBTQI+ individuals found it difficult or very difficult to meet financial needs, compared to 32.7% of non-2SLGBTQI+ individuals;
• Racialized 2SLGBTQI+ community members experience even greater income disparities relative to their white counterparts; and
• 2SLGBTQI+ individuals are twice as likely to experience homelessness compared to their heterosexual, cisgender counterparts, while queer women are 4 four times as likely. 

“A strong Canadian economy is one where everyone can thrive, no matter their background, race, religion, or identity. That’s why building a 2SLGBTQI+-inclusive society benefits us all,” adds Larry Rousseau, Executive Vice President of the CLC. “Canada’s unions will continue to lead the charge when it comes to building more inclusive workplaces and defending hard-won gains for 2SLGBTQI+ rights at work and in our communities.”

This Pride season, join Canada’s unions and show your solidarity to celebrate and defend 2SLGBTQI+ rights both at work and in our communities. 

The post Solidarity in our Pride: Unions Welcome 2025 Pride Season in Celebration of 2SLGBTQI+ Workers and Communities appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

OTTAWA –– Workers expected an ambitious plan to strengthen our economy, create jobs, and defend communities against Trump’s agenda, however, today’s throne speech provided none of this.

Workers need the federal government to have a plan, backed by bold investment and action, to deliver good union jobs, stronger public services, and economic security for all.

Canadian families continue to bear the brunt of a continued affordability crisis and Trump’s economic chaos. For far too many workers, wages are not keeping up with rising costs. Families are facing an increasingly unattainable housing market, and many are being left behind by a strained Employment Insurance system and an under-resourced public health care system. At the same time, a rising unemployment rate is making it even harder for workers to find stable, secure jobs and support their families.

Prioritizing tax cuts for the wealthy over support for those who need it most signals a step away from the bold action needed to tackle the trade war, housing crisis, strained health care, and the climate emergency.

While we welcome the government’s intention to “bring down costs for Canadians”, we are deeply concerned by a Throne Speech that emphasizes deregulation, cost-cutting, and fiscal restraint over meaningful investment in people and the services they rely on.

The Throne Speech’s proposals to eliminate internal trade barriers fail to raise the bar for workers across the board and instead risk weakening standards and protections and undermining provincial autonomy. Unions must have a seat at the table in these conversations because workers cannot be an afterthought when shaping Canada’s future.

The government must prioritize the creation of good jobs and a globally competitive industrial strategy, but not if it comes at the cost of public oversight or by shortchanging the workers who build our economy. It must begin with investments in infrastructure, clean energy, manufacturing, and care services that create good union jobs and support communities.

Tinkering with regulations or shrinking government operations is no substitute for the real, sustained investment that working families need.

On housing, we urge the government to go beyond incentives for private developers and commit to building publicly funded, truly affordable housing. Every Canadian deserves a safe place to call home, not just market-driven promises of “affordability.”

The government’s commitment to attracting global talent is important, but it must go hand-in-hand with strong labour protections, fair wages, and a renewed focus on training and retaining workers already here. Immigration policy must be grounded in equity and sustainability, not as a cover for suppressing wages or undercutting working conditions.

Lastly, we are particularly alarmed by the suggestion of cutting public services at a time when Canadians, reeling from Trump’s trade war, need more support, not less.

Limiting investments now would only deepen inequality and strain already overburdened systems like health care and EI. Similarly, vague promises to use AI to boost productivity must be met with clear commitments to job protection, quality public services, and strong regulations to ensure technology works for and with workers, not against them.

Workers are watching. This moment calls for courageous leadership, not cost-cutting or complacency. The government must work with Canada’s unions to raise wages, strengthen public health care, implement universal, publicly funded Pharmacare, modernize Employment Insurance, and ensure that no worker is left behind.

It’s time for this government to choose: bold leadership, or missed opportunity.

Workers were front and centre during the election, but left out of the Throne Speech.

We’re ready to work with this government, but make no mistake: if it fails workers, we won’t hesitate to hold it to account.

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To arrange an interview, please contact:
CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca
613-526-7426

The post Throne Speech misses the mark for workers appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Workers in the Crossfire: Inflation, Austerity, Precarious Jobs and Rising Insecurity

Workers in G7 countries have faced a series of compounding shocks in recent years that have significantly strained household incomes and undermined job security. The 2022- 2023 surge in inflation led to a pronounced cost-of-living crisis that remains ongoing. As prices for essential goods and services soared, wages failed to keep pace, sharply eroding the purchasing power of working families. In response, central banks raised interest rates aggressively in an effort to rein in inflation, which subsequently increased borrowing costs and dampened both business investment and household consumption. In many countries, high interest rates have fuelled increases in capital income, widening income and wealth inequality as well as social polarisation.

While easing inflation has seen interest rates lowered over the past year, previous rate hikes continue to weigh down the credit supply. A significant share of corporate and mortgage debt taken out during a period of low interest rates is yet to mature and will need to be refinanced in the near future. This will come at a higher cost, leading to increased interest payments and additional strain on household and corporate finances. Restrictive monetary policy, coupled with austerity policies or overly cautious fiscal policy, have also had profound effects on the labour market. Unemployment rates have increased in several G7 countries, particularly in sectors such as construction and manufacturing, which are acutely sensitive to higher interest rates and rely heavily on sustained consumer demand and public and private investment. Many firms have postponed or cancelled projects, leading to restructuring and layoffs, hiring and wage

freezes, and weakened employment prospects. Meanwhile, the share of precarious, part- time, and non-standard forms of work has grown in many countries, reflecting a broader shift toward poor quality and more insecure employment — an issue that disproportionately affects vulnerable groups, including women, youth and migrants, who are overrepresented in these forms of work.

Widespread uncertainty, driven not only by high living and borrowing costs and weak employment prospects, but also exacerbated by the changing geopolitical landscape, conflicts and trade disruptions, continues to cast a shadow over the global economy. The recent introduction of highly disruptive trade tariffs has already unsettled supply chains and increased financial pressure on producers, investors and consumers. While the current global trading system has led to a race to the bottom in wages and working conditions, the use of trade tariffs as an aggressive political tool will disproportionately affect low-income groups, due to their heightened vulnerability to rising prices and increased risk of job losses.

As a result of these and other external pressures, economic activity has slowed across most G7 economies and beyond. This deceleration is feeding into the labour market, where employment growth is losing momentum and hiring plans have become increasingly cautious. It is therefore critical to adopt concerted economic, trade and labour market policies that take into account the evolution of the labour market and prioritise the rights and needs of workers, including the creation of quality jobs.

A Path Forward: Supporting Inclusive and Employment-rich Economic Growth

While inflation has been the primary concern in recent years, the greater threat now lies in prolonged economic stagnation and labour market deterioration. The Labour 7 is concerned that the continuation of restrictive monetary policy risks stalling economic activity, suppressing demand, and even pushing inflation below target in several G7 countries, including Canada, Germany, France and Italy. Excessively tight monetary policy may also exacerbate existing labour market weaknesses, potentially triggering a cycle of employment restructuring. To avoid such a scenario, the Labour 7 calls upon central banks in G7 countries to reduce interest rates at an accelerated pace. To minimise the risk of sharp inflationary spikes in the future and prevent firms from marking up prices and widening margins, it is essential to expand the policy toolkit with measures that address monopsonic or oligopolistic markets, strengthen appropriate rent and price controls, expand strategic commodity reserves and shore up labour market institutions, including collective bargaining, to coordinate wage and price setting.

Moreover, fiscal policy plays a key role in stimulating aggregate demand and supporting job creation. In many countries, however, restrictive fiscal policy and austerity measures have delayed necessary investment and led to cuts in social investment. Strategic public investment combined with a strong public sector, with sufficient human, financial and material resources, is essential — not only for boosting consumption, fostering employment and advancing a just transition, but also for cushioning against economic

downturns and counteracting the adverse effects of rising trade protectionism ensuing from the current trade war. With inflation now largely under control, the Labour 7 calls for a shift towards expansionary fiscal policy. Governments must prioritise recovery, economic and social resilience, climate action and long-term stability, ensuring that workers’ rights and livelihoods are protected.

This can best be supported by fairer and more progressive tax policies, including progressive taxation of wealth and capital income, increased corporate income effective tax rates, a financial transaction tax and a clear and stable legal framework for taxation of windfall profits realised in a context of economic recessions at the expense of workers. These must be accompanied by increased investment in health, social protection, education and other essential public services, active labour market policy, skilling and lifelong learning programmes, affordable housing, clean and affordable energy, and green infrastructure and technologies. Governments need to invest in social policy and guarantee universal access to public services and welfare for all. This would increase the resilience of economies in a time of uncertainty and turmoil. Public investments must be conditional on respect for workers’ rights, first and foremost collective bargaining and freedom of association, as well as compliance with Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) standards. Despite limited fiscal space and increases in military spending, the Labour 7 urges G7 members to meet their commitment to dedicate at least 0.7% of GNI to official development assistance to address the dramatic development setbacks and emerging debt crises in developing countries.

Last year, G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors agreed “that countries’ policy mix for a just transition should be designed in a way that encourages innovation, finance and investment in green technologies, reflects equity considerations, and promotes social and political support for climate action” (Stresa, May 2024). It is now time to take further steps by implementing policies that advance climate action while fostering green and decent job creation and upholding fundamental labour rights — particularly the right to collective bargaining, in line with the ILO 2015 Guidelines on Just Transition.

The Labour 7 call upon G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to:

• Reduce interest rates at a faster pace and implement expansionary fiscal policies to stimulate demand and quality employment and to avoid stalling economic recovery.
• Coordinate fiscal and monetary policy to stabilise prices and preserve long-term affordability, including through measures that address monopsonic and oligopolistic markets, strengthen appropriate rent and price controls, expand strategic commodity reserves and shore up labour market institutions, including collective bargaining.
• Implement fairer and more progressive tax policies to enhance fiscal space and reduce inequality, including progressive taxation of wealth and capital income, higher corporate income effective tax rates, a legal framework for windfall profits taxation and a financial transaction tax.
• Reinforce active labour market policies, skilling and lifelong learning programmes to reduce unemployment and improve labour market adaptability.
• Increase investment in health, social protection, education and affordable housing to safeguard livelihoods, improve mobility and tackle poverty and segregation.
• Expand investment in clean and affordable energy, green infrastructure and technologies to stimulate green and quality job creation and advance a just transition.
• Uphold fundamental labour rights, particularly the right to collective bargaining, including as a tool to promote real-wage growth, as recognized by G7 Leaders in the 2023 Hiroshima Communiqué.
• Comply with the internationally agreed UN target of dedicating 0.7 percent of GNI to official development assistance.

The post Labour 7 Statement to G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Windsor, ON – The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) stands in solidarity with workers as they face the devastating consequences of new U.S. tariffs on the Canadian auto industry.

Following the announcement of the tariffs, Stellantis Windsor Assembly Plant workers were informed that the plant would shut down for two weeks beginning April 7, with further schedule changes anticipated.

This disruption creates significant uncertainty for workers and the broader industry, threatening livelihoods and economic stability.

To address these urgent concerns, CLC President Bea Bruske and CLC Executive Vice-President Siobhán Vipond will join workers at a press conference in Windsor to discuss the impact of the tariffs and demand government action to protect Canadian jobs.

What:              Press Conference to address economic disruption caused by Trump’s tariffs

When:            Monday, April 7, at 10:00 a.m. ET

Where:           Assumption North Park – 2400 Riverside Dr W, Windsor, ON or via Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87453510904)

Who:               Bea Bruske, President, Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)
Siobhán Vipond, Executive Vice President, Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)
Bill Pollock, President, United Auto Workers Local 251

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To arrange an interview, please contact: 
CLC Media Relations 
media@clcctc.ca 
613-526-7426

The post Canadian Labour Congress joins workers in Windsor, Ontario appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

The recent wave of targeted actions to stop Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies, programs and initiatives in the United States has profound implications not just for workers south of the border, but for those here in Canada as well.

DEI initiatives are based on the principle that all workers, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other identities, should have equal opportunities and protections in the workplace. These principles align with the core values the Canadian labour movement has long fought to uphold, and we must continue to defend them now in these polarizing times.

By actively dismantling these initiatives, those wielding the axe are sending a clear message: that the rights of equity-deserving communities are expendable, that the pursuit of equality and fairness is optional and that the systemic inequities that DEI programs aim to address are not only acceptable but desirable.

This is not just a debate over workplace policies—what we are witnessing is not a genuine effort to improve workplaces—but a ploy by reactionary right-wing forces and politicians seeking to roll back the clock on hard-won rights and create a divisive, exclusionary society. Attacks on DEI initiatives are part of a concerted and organized effort to undermine progress on human rights, sow division among workers and maintain power structures that benefit the few at the expense of the many.

“These are deliberate attacks on the fundamental human rights that underpin a just society. They aim to create a narrative, and indeed a society, where equity and social progress are seen as threats, and exclusion and discrimination are accepted, normalized and further entrenched. We won’t stand for it,” said CLC Executive Vice-President, Larry Rousseau.

In Canada, where we continue to see a rise in hate due to years of deliberate fear-mongering by politicians and far-right actors, the widespread anti-DEI actions in the U.S. will only embolden those who seek to undermine and reverse our nation’s progress on social issues and human rights. In a climate where the affordability crisis is seeing neighbours being pitted against one another and entire communities being scapegoated for the actions of big business, big developers and greedy politicians, it is crucial that we remain unwavering and unapologetic in our defense of equity and inclusion. Not only as fundamental safeguards for human rights, but also in defense of workers and the strength of organized labour, which, together, can resist these forces.

The fight for DEI is a fight for unity among workers. It is about recognizing that an injury to one is an injury to all and that when we elevate the rights and opportunities of the most marginalized among us, we strengthen those of all workers. When we stand together—united in our demands for equity, dignity, and justice—we are a formidable force able to use the collective strength needed to challenge the longstanding systems of power that perpetuate widespread inequities.

Now more than ever, we must stand united in defense of the rights and needs of all workers, firmly rejecting any efforts to divide us. Check out our Workers Together campaign and join the fight today.

The post Workers in Canada are pushing back against attacks on DEI policies appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Nearly 9,000 jobs are on the line, and Canada’s unions won’t stand by while workers are left in the dark.

Canada’s unions stand in solidarity with HBC workers and urge the company to prioritize workers’ rights throughout the liquidation process.

We demand that HBC honour its commitments—wages, benefits, and severance must be paid. No backroom deals, no vague promises—workers deserve full transparency.

HBC must ensure that frontline workers aren’t the ones left paying the price.

We demand full and timely transparency from HBC on store closures, layoffs, and severance protections.

We call on the federal government to confirm that workers’ EI benefits will not be clawed back because of the severance and termination benefits HBC owes them.

These commitments are not merely legal obligations but a matter of fundamental fairness and respect for the dedicated employees who have contributed to the company’s success.

Workers’ livelihoods are at stake and they deserve clear, honest communication about their future.

Canada’s unions are calling on HBC to put workers first during these creditor protection and bankruptcy proceedings. We stand ready to defend workers’ rights and fight for their financial security every step of the way.

HBC must act with responsibility and compassion as they navigate this crisis.

The well-being of thousands of workers and their families hangs in the balance. We will not stand by as corporate interests trample on the people who built this company.

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To arrange an interview, please contact:
CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca
613-526-7426

The post Canada’s unions call on Hudson’s Bay to prioritize workers in bankruptcy proceedings appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“We are pleased to see that the Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care funding agreements will continue until 2031 in almost every province and territory,” said Bea Bruske, CLC President.  “Sustainable federal funding is essential to building a national child care system that meets the needs of working families in Canada.  In the midst of a trade war that will have far-reaching impacts on many workers, access to affordable child care will make a huge difference for parents who need to know their children are safe and well cared for while they go to work or receive training”.

During times of economic stress, workers need stable and reliable public services so they can participate in the labour force and manage the increased costs of essentials.  While our child care system is still expanding to meet the increasing demand for care, having the security of longer-term federal funding will help the sector continue to grow.

“The next step is to help the early learning and child care system expand and flourish with new public and not-for-profit facilities in every community and a robust workforce strategy that will help recruit and retain child care workers by improving wages, benefits, working conditions, and professional development opportunities”, said Siobhán Vipond, CLC Executive Vice-President.

“As we approach a federal election, Canada’s unions urge all parties to commit to $10 a Day Child Care and to continuing to build and strengthen the system so that every working family has quality, comprehensive care they can count on.  Our economy depends on it”, said Bruske.

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To arrange an interview, please contact:
CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca
613-526-7426

The post Canada’s Unions welcome extended child care funding appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

To our governments: 

This is a time for action. Canadians expect a strong and decisive response that meets this attack with the full weight of our country’s power. This is not a moment for half-measures or empty words. We must protect Canadian jobs and industries through retaliation and investments in our future. We must enhance Employment Insurance benefits, expand Work-Sharing programs and provide direct financial support to those at the frontlines of this trade war. This is a moment to rebuild our manufacturing, strengthen our supply chains, and create the good union jobs of tomorrow. We must replace lost economic activity with ambitious nation-building projects—affordable housing, public transit, and industrial development that makes our country stronger and more self-sufficient. We need our governments to match the ambition of Canadians in defence of this country. This war will not be won on the cheap.  

To all workers in Canada:

The road ahead will be tough. We will see job losses, we will see economic pain, and we will see attempts to divide us. But Canada’s workers are strong, smart, and resilient. What makes us Canadian is our unwavering belief in the collective—that we take care of each other, that no one gets left behind. Now more than ever, we must live those values. Already you’ve shown your pride at hockey games and in grocery stores. Now is the time to dig in. Get involved in your union. Stand up for your community. Support local businesses and union-made products. Look out for your neighbours. Reach across political lines and reject the forces of division. Because we are stronger together, and together, we will overcome this.  

Make no mistake: Trump wants to hurt Canadian workers. He wants to shake our confidence and weaken our country. But what he doesn’t understand is that Canadians do not break. We will fight for our jobs, for our families, and for our future—come hell or high water.

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To arrange an interview, please contact:
CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca
613-526-7426

Link to Backgrounder available here
Link to Letter to Prime Minister available here

The post Statement from Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, on Trump’s tariff attack on Canada appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

The meeting will focus on the economic consequences of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods and services, emphasizing how these measures threaten jobs, increase costs for businesses and consumers, and weaken the long-standing economic partnership between Canada and the United States.

As part of broader efforts to push back against tariffs, labour leaders will make the case for policies that strengthen the economic ties that support good jobs on both sides of the border.

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To arrange an interview with Bea Bruske, please contact: 
CLC Media Relations 
media@clcctc.ca 
613-526-7426

The post CLC President Bea Bruske available after U.S. – Canada trade talks in Washington, D.C. appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“Donald Trump’s reckless threats are a direct attack on workers on both sides of the border”, said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “Canadians are rightfully alarmed and expect strong leadership from their governments to protect their jobs and defend our industries from these harmful policies.”

Eight in ten Canadians believe American tariffs on Canadian goods will increase the cost of living and nine in ten believe it will have a negative impact on Canada-US relations.

In response to these threats:

• 90% of Canadians support an investment plan to grow our economy, support Canadian industries and create good jobs.
• 77% believe the federal government should retaliate by placing tariffs on American imports and 75% want Canada to cut off American access to Canadian resources like electricity, oil and wood.
• 80% want the government to support people who would be impacted by job losses.
• Two in three Canadians reject an appeasement policy toward Trump.

“This is a moment of unity for Canada,” said Bruske. “Political leaders at all levels of government and from all parties should listen to Canadians and understand that people expect them to stand united for Canada and Canadian workers.”

The post Canadians reject Trump’s tariff threats: New CLC poll appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

This award is named in honour of Carol McGregor, an outstanding disability rights activist, member of NUPGE and the CLC Disability Rights Working Group―and who was much loved by all those who worked with her. Carol passed away in 2006.

In 2024, the award recognizes the National Union of Public and General Employees and Ontario Public Service Employees Union activist Greg Snider.

Greg is an inspiring leader in our labour movement who has spent his life tirelessly advocating for the rights of workers with disabilities in Ontario and across Canada. Greg’s advocacy efforts have spanned many workplaces and communities, including his work at the Ontario Disability Support Program of the Ministry of Community and Social Services as an intake specialist, to his work with Community Living Thunder Bay supporting persons with developmental disabilities in group homes for over a decade.

Greg was also an OPSEU member for his entire working life. As a dedicated trade unionist, Greg was president of his local 714 for over 10 years. As a union leader, he was passionate about ensuring OPSEU and OFL conventions were accessible and inclusive spaces for workers with disabilities. He was also involved in several regional initiatives that propelled the rights of workers with disabilities to the top of the union’s agenda, including his efforts alongside the late Carol McGregor to co-found and then co-chair the first ever Disability Caucus at OPSEU.  

As a lifetime champion for disability rights and inclusion of people with disabilities in his union and across many workplaces and communities, Greg perfectly embodies the spirit of this award. 

Congratulations to Greg and thank you for your leadership and activism for disability rights and inclusion.

The post Greg Snider – Winner of the 2024 Carol McGregor CLC Disability Rights Award appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Canada’s unions are pleased with the government’s announcement to impose tariffs on Chinese imports, including a 100% tariff on electric vehicles and a 25% tariff on aluminum and steel, matching recent U.S. actions. Coming into force on October 22, this marks one of the most significant shifts in our supply chain in decades and it’s a necessary step in protecting Canada’s economy, our workers, and the investments we’ve already made in the electric vehicle (EV) industry.

This decision is in Canada’s best interest, especially for our workers. By aligning our policy with the U.S., we are standing against unfair Chinese competition, which has long benefited from overcapacity, weak labour protections, and poor environmental standards.

For too long, Canadian industries have been at risk of being undercut by these practices, and today’s announcement signals that Canada will no longer tolerate this unfair advantage.

This is not just about protecting our industries—it’s about protecting Canadian jobs. As the global economy moves toward a low-carbon future, the EV sector represents a massive opportunity for growth, and Canada must be at the forefront of that transition. By leveraging the power of our skilled workforce and making smart decisions like this one, we can ensure that the rise of net-zero industries, like electric vehicles, translates into good, unionized jobs that support Canadian families.

We are particularly encouraged by the emphasis on domestic supply chains. Protecting the EV supply chain here in Canada means more than just keeping out unfair imports; it’s about investing in our own capacity to innovate and manufacture the sustainable technologies of the future. It’s about ensuring that this economic transition creates opportunities for Canadian workers and doesn’t become a backdoor for foreign markets to flood our country with cheaper alternatives.

However, we must remain focused on ensuring that these policies are enforced in ways that truly benefit workers. Tariffs alone aren’t enough—this shift must be part of a broader strategy to build up Canada’s industrial base, foster innovation, and create an environment where good, unionized jobs can thrive. Canada’s unions will continue to advocate for policies that protect our workers, create opportunities in sustainable industries, and ensure that the benefits of this transition are shared fairly across the country.

Together, we can build a stronger, more sustainable economy that provides good jobs and a fair future for all.

The post Protecting Canadian workers: CLC welcomes tariffs on Chinese imports appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Large corporations are worsening the affordability crisis for workers and their families, causing the cost of housing, groceries, and other necessities to skyrocket. This crisis hurts everyone, but it’s significantly more challenging for those who already have limited access to resources, including women and gender-diverse people. 

In Canada, sixty percent of minimum wageworkers are women, almost a third of women live in homes that are unaffordable, inadequately sized, or in disrepair,  and according to a 2023 Statistics Canada report, 21 percent of families with a female major income earner were food insecure versus 16% with a male major earner and food insecurity was highest among female lone parent families (41%).

Canadian workers reject the politics of hate and division peddled by conservatives. We know everyone is being squeezed, and we demand that each party get serious and commit to real solutions that pave the way for a better future. 

Take action for Gender Equality Week 2024! Join our Workers Together campaign and tell federal political leaders:

We demand a better deal that makes corporations pay their fair share so workers can finally get ahead.

By making wealthy corporations pay their due in taxes, we can reinvest in the things that keep our communities strong, like programs to make life more affordable, our care systems, and ensuring everyone has a place to call home.

We demand pharmacare: workers need a better deal that finally puts our needs first.

Overall, too many workers can’t afford medications due to corporate greed and conservative efforts to protect corporate profits. In particular, women are more likely than men not to fill their prescription drugs because of cost – whether or not they have drug insurance.

We demand a better deal that prioritizes care and care workers.

Women make up most of the paid and unpaid care economy, and jobs caring for children, older adults, and people with disabilities tend to be underpaid and precarious.  

Care workers look after our children, parents, and loved ones, yet conservative provincial and federal leaders prioritize cuts over supporting them. It’s no wonder there are worker shortages in health care, childcare, and other care sectors, and childcare is becoming harder to find.

We demand a better deal that prioritizes good jobs and a say in our future.

Extreme weather events are threatening our lives and livelihoods. Rising temperatures cause intense wildfires, water scarcity, droughts and displacement; it’s also projected to cause income losses for Canadians, especially low-income households. 

Climate change disproportionately impacts the cultures, traditions and economies of Indigenous peoples and the traditional roles of Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people in their communities. Extreme weather events have also been shown to increase the demand for services related to intimate partner violence.

It’s time to demand a deal for workers that puts us at the forefront, paving the way for a better future. Let’s work together and make our voices heard.

CLC Executive Vice-President, Siobhán Vipond: “Wage gaps are widening because of the unequal impacts of the affordability crisis, with little relief in sight. Women are over-represented in part-time and low-paying jobs, while women and gender-diverse people are more likely to be inadequately housed and food insecure. When the costs of basic necessities like food, housing and utilities go up, these longstanding inequalities are compounded. It’s time for the federal government to act.” CLC President, Bea Bruske: “Rising prices have led to skyrocketing profits for the wealthiest people and corporations, while everyone else is stuck footing the bill. Workers are fed up having to subsidize the lavish lifestyle of Canada’s multi-millionaires and billionaires. Their bill is due, and it’s time for these profiteers to pay up. The federal government has a duty to make big corporations and investors pay what they owe and put that money back into social programming that supports workers and our families.”

CLC President, Bea Bruske: “Rising prices have led to skyrocketing profits for the wealthiest people and corporations, while everyone else is stuck footing the bill. Workers are fed up having to subsidize the lavish lifestyle of Canada’s multi-millionaires and billionaires. Their bill is due, and it’s time for these profiteers to pay up. The federal government has a duty to make big corporations and investors pay what they owe and put that money back into social programming that supports workers and our families.”

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Workers are the backbone of our economy. Every day, we power industries, drive innovation, and support communities. Yet, as we work to keep Canada running, we face an ever-growing financial squeeze. Housing, a basic human right, has become a luxury few can afford. Pay cheques, already stretched thin, can no longer cover basic necessities. Grocery bills, utilities and other essentials that form the bedrock of our daily lives are becoming increasingly unaffordable, pushing families to the brink.

Meanwhile, corporations and the wealthiest individuals are reaping record profits. This stark contrast is not just unfair—it’s unsustainable. By inflating prices, hoarding profits and dodging taxes, corporations shift the financial burden onto ordinary Canadians.

It’s time to end corporate greed and make those who have benefited the most contribute their fair share.

We need our politicians to ensure that corporations and the wealthy are held accountable and made to pay up. Some politicians, like Pierre Poilievre, speak often about the struggles working people face, but refuse to hold corporations accountable. In fact, Mr. Poilievre has voted consistently to cut corporate taxes throughout his 20 years in parliament.

Failing to make corporations pay what they owe makes it harder to provide relief to families and hollows out crucial funding for services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure. These services support the well-being and security of everyone—helping to build a society where everyday people can improve their lives and their families’ futures. This is exactly why pushing back against corporate greed and fighting for fairness is so important to Canada’s unions.

The collective strength and relentless advocacy of unions and workers have led to the creation of essential social programs that improve affordability and quality of life. Through our united efforts, programs like the Canada Pension Plan, public healthcare, public transit, employment insurance, and affordable childcare have become pillars of support for all workers.

At the core of our beliefs lies an unwavering commitment to the fundamental principle of fairness and dignity in the workplace. We advocate for better wages, safer working conditions, and essential benefits like healthcare and pensions, ensuring that every worker—regardless of their position—is treated with respect.  Unions have long fought for the rights of all working people. Now, it’s time for our political leaders to follow suit. The path forward demands a concerted effort to prioritize people over profits, by creating good union jobs, investing in public services, and ensuring that corporations and wealthy individuals pay their fair share. By doing so, Canada can build a more equitable society where workers and their families can thrive

As Canada approaches this crossroads, the choices made now will determine the future for generations to come. So, this Labour Day, let’s bring workers together – and let’s get a better deal

The post Labour Day Op Ed: It’s Time for a Better Deal for Workers appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“Canada’s working class is being pushed to the brink. Families do everything right to get ahead, yet groceries, housing, and other essentials fall further out of reach. Workers deserve a better deal – and unions are the key to unlocking it,” said Bea Bruske, President of the CLC. “Workers Together is by workers, for workers. With the support of unions, it amplifies workers’ voices for a better future.”

With this national campaign, Canada’s unions are working with their members and workers across the country to advance the pressing issues facing working families.

Poverty rates are rising, with seniors, Indigenous and racialized communities, and people with disabilities disproportionately affected. Surging housing costs are stretching household budgets to breaking point.

Alarmingly, only two in five workers can access Employment Insurance when they need it and workplace pensions have become increasingly rare, leaving many Canadians without a financial safety net. These challenges are compounded by a care system in crisis. At the same time, wealth inequality continues to widen, as the richest Canadians and large corporations amass record profits. 

“This growing disparity is unacceptable,” warned Bruske. “We’re seeing a system that favours the wealthiest while leaving hardworking Canadians behind. Workers have had enough.”

Canada’s unions are advocating for programs and services that will improve the lives of all workers, such as affordable housing, improved public health care, expanded pharmacare, Employment Insurance reform, and investments in public transit and a sustainable economy. 

Bruske added: “Workers together is about workers coming together and ensuring we have pro-worker voices in government to hold big corporations accountable. Politicians like Poilievre talk big and then vote against workers’ interests when it matters. It’s time to expose these anti-worker politicians and demand real support for working people.”

“From the workplace, to the checkout, to Parliament: Workers deserve respect, not just on Labour Day but every day,” emphasized Bruske.

For more information, visit https://workerstogether.ca. 

The post On Labour Day, Canada’s unions launch national campaign demanding a better deal for all workers appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

OTTAWA – As Parliament adjourns for the summer, Canada’s unions are celebrating major and historic victories for the labour movement. However, the struggle is far from over.

We are finally charting a course towards a sustainable future with workers at the forefront. Last October, Poilievre’s Conservatives stalled Bill C-50 in committee for over a month, engaging in nothing but shenanigans and squandering time and public funds.

Today, workers can celebrate the Royal Assent of the Sustainable Jobs Act, a landmark legislation that grants workers a decisive voice in shaping their future.

The CLC would like to thank the government and the NDP for moving Bill C-50 through the House of Commons and Senator Hassan Yussuff for sponsoring the Bill in the Senate.

The next imperative is for the government to collaborate with industry and workers to set concrete goals that create and protect good union jobs as we confront climate change and establish the Sustainable Jobs Partnership Council.

“This legislation might never have materialized if workers from coast to coast hadn’t raised their voices,” declared Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “By bringing together workers, unions, and businesses, governments now have the potential to drive innovation, decarbonize existing jobs for long-term sustainability, and generate new low-carbon job jobs that enable workers to support their families.”

Another monumental triumph for the labour movement is the passage of Bill C-58, the Anti-Scab legislation, which received unanimous support from MPs and clearance by the Senate. After decades of relentless advocacy, Canada now has federal anti-scab legislation. This is crucial for protecting workers and their right to strike. The use of scab labour not only undermines this right but also exacerbates labour disputes and intensifies hostility on picket lines.

“I’ve heard countless stories from workers who have faced direct confrontations during strikes, jeopardizing their safety and livelihoods. This must never happen. We are pleased to see this long-overdue protection for workers that will significantly restore balance at the bargaining table,” added Bruske.

Earlier this week, CLC President Bea Bruske, alongside Jason Maclean, Chair of the Canadian Health Coalition, and Manuel Arango, Vice President at the Heart and Stroke Foundation, urged Senators to pass Bill C-64, the Pharmacare Act, without amendments or further delays.

“Canadians could be accessing free birth control and diabetes medication this summer if the Senate were to pass Bill C-64 now. People have waited long enough to access free birth control and free diabetes medication and devices. Our message to the Senate is clear: pass this bill now and let’s get these medications to people who need them immediately,” stated Bruske

As the countdown to the next election begins, workers stand united with a clear message to all political parties: if you want our votes, you must respect our rights and deliver real help to workers and families. We demand concrete actions, not empty promises.

Last April, Canada’s labour leaders from across the nation issued a stern warning to politicians from all parties that workers demand more than just supportive rhetoric.

“Workers will hold politicians accountable if they fail to support concrete measures to protect workers’ rights and continue allowing employers to have the upper hand,” warned Bruske. “All parties must commit to concrete actions that dismantle barriers to joining or forming a union and crack down on any company that unfairly obstructs workers from organizing.”

The post Labour celebrating historic wins – but the fight is not over appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

OTTAWA- Pharmacare is about ensuring that families across Canada have access to better health care by covering prescription medications. It fills a critical gap in our healthcare system but, the Senate’s delay in passing Bill C-64 is jeopardizing this critical legislation.

“Millions of Canadians have waited long enough to benefit from free diabetes medication and birth control,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “The Senate needs to pass the bill without amendments before they break for the summer.”

Canada’s current drug insurance system is a fragmented patchwork of 100 public and over 100,000 private plans, causing major disparities in accessibility, affordability, and coverage. This inconsistency leaves millions of Canadians struggling to afford their prescriptions.

Each province and territory operates its own distinct prescription drug plans, creating a complex system further exacerbated by the disparities among private insurers. As a result, 7.5 million Canadians lack insurance coverage and bear the cost of their medications out-of-pocket.

“Pharmacare is the most significant enhancement to our healthcare system since the introduction of public healthcare in Canada. The urgency for this cannot be overstated. Nearly one million Canadians have had to sacrifice basic necessities like food and heating to afford medications, and another million have resorted to borrowing money,” added Bruske.

“For too long, many among us have struggled to afford their life-saving prescription drugs, making risky tradeoffs between following doctor’s orders and paying the rent,” says Manuel Arango, Heart & Stroke’s Vice President of Policy and Advocacy. “This bill is a historic first step toward equal access to prescription drugs for all people in Canada. We urge the government to seize this moment and pass the Pharmacare Act before the end of June.”

‘’Over 50 civil society organizations under the CHC umbrella endorse and support Bill C-64, the Pharmacare Act, a cause we’ve advocated for decades. Representing various sectors including healthcare, seniors, migrant rights, sexual health, and women’s rights, we urge the Senate to swiftly pass Bill C-64. It’s vital for millions to access free birth control and diabetes medication.” Jason Maclean, Chair, Canadian Health Coalition

Implementing pharmacare will save money for Canadians. With a national pharmacare program, bulk purchasing and streamlined administration can reduce overall drug costs, putting money back into the pockets of families. Pharmacare will also alleviate the strain on our healthcare system.

The swift passage of Bill C-64, An Act respecting Pharmacare, is necessary for millions of Canadians to access free birth control and diabetes medication, providing much-needed relief from the high cost of living.

Canada’s unions are calling on all Senators to stop withholding Bill C-64, a crucial piece of legislation that will put money back in people’s pockets, and allow easier access to diabetes medications as well as allow women greater freedom over their sexual and reproductive health.

Our message to Senators is clear: Pass Bill C-64 without further delays.

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The delegation which included the General Secretaries of the ITUC and the Global Union Federations, as well as several top union leaders from across the world, met with representatives of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) as well as union leaders representing workers in the West Bank and Gaza. They also met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustapha, and several government ministers during the mission on 28-30 May 2024. Several global unions are already deeply engaged with their Palestinian colleagues, all committed to supporting and sustaining the struggle of Palestinian workers.

The delegation made clear that “we express our solidarity with Palestinian trade unions and workers in these difficult times. We are deeply concerned by the grave humanitarian crisis faced by the people of Gaza, and we stand with Palestinians, Israelis, and people the world over calling for peace, equality, and justice.”

Immediate priorities must include an immediate and permanent ceasefire with full respect for international humanitarian law, immediate access to humanitarian assistance, the release of all hostages and others held without due judicial process, and enabling the safe return of all workers trapped by the conflict.

The delegation also recalled the ITUC and other global unions’ long-standing policy for a two-state solution, and the call for a just and durable peace through the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 to facilitate a real economic future for an independent Palestine. This involves ending the occupation of the West Bank, dismantling all illegal settlements, and recognizing the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state.

The delegation urged governments to resume and increase funding to UNRWA. “UNRWA’s role is vital in providing essential services and supporting Palestinians at a time when they are most in need.”

“We came here to reinforce the depth of our commitment to Palestinian workers and their unions – we are all part of the same family. Our goal is a democratic and sovereign Palestine, living in just and lasting peace and security alongside Israel. We know that trade unions are an essential element of any democracy, and that strong and democratic independent unions will be a key building block towards that end in Palestine. “

The delegation reported hearing moving testimony from Palestinians who have paid a terrible price during the current war. On top of the distressing reality of destruction and loss of life in Gaza, we have heard about settler violence and restrictions on human rights such as freedom of movement and economic hardship in the West Bank.

Nevertheless, what shines through is the commitment to trade unionism and its potential to help deliver a just settlement in the broader chaos of this conflict.

Our responsibility as global trade unionists is to nurture that sentiment and we call upon the global labour movement to deliver on its principles of peace, humanity, democracy, and solidarity. This includes continuing to invest in a constructive dialogue with trade unions in both Palestine and Israel which recognizes their critical role in their respective societies”.

“Global unions will neither forget nor forsake our sisters and brothers in Palestine. We will redouble efforts to support your unions and support you. Trade unions have remained a constant – democratically rooted in their communities and well equipped to provide concrete support during the reconstruction which should embed the principles of decent work and quality public services.”

Many of the global unions have already provided significant aid to workers through unions in Gaza and the West Bank. For example, Education International has provided financial assistance for more than 1,000 teachers in Palestine and provides shelter centres for more than 5,000 children in Rafah. The International Federation of Journalists provides direct support for reporters in Gaza and operates a solidarity centre with workspace and equipment in Khan Younis, and the International Transport Workers Federation and PSI have launched a Palestine solidarity fund to provide immediate relief and longer-term support for Palestinian transport and public service workers and their families. BWI provided humanitarian support and shelters for construction workers and their families.

The delegation concluded: ‘Trade unions are part of the global peace movement. We stand for peace alongside such important values as democracy and humanity. That’s why we are here.”

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According to the Association of Workers Compensation Boards of Canada, an astounding 348,747 lost time claims were made in 2022, the last year for which complete data is available.

Shockingly, this number doesn’t even count those who decline – or are illegally persuaded by their employers not – to report their injuries.

On Day of Mourning, Canada’s unions issued a demand for “Safe work now!”, a call to action for employers and governments to make work and workplaces truly safe for all workers.

“Every workplace injury is preventable, says Bea Bruske, President of the CLC. ” These injuries – be they physical or psychological – should never be seen as “part of the job”. Employers have a legal and moral responsibility to ensure that workers aren’t hurt or maimed.”

To ensure that every worker returns home whole from the job at the end of every work day, Canada’s unions demand from every level of government:

• Holding criminally negligent employers accountable through proactive enforcement of the Westray Law – not just for fatalities, but injuries as well;
• Substantive action to ensure workers know about the hazards in their work and workplace, regardless of the type of products they use;
• Development and implementation of comprehensive strategies to remove toxic substances from the workplace;
• That every workplace be free from violence and harassment; and
• Increased proactive workplace health and safety investigations and stronger enforcement of health and safety laws.

“Workers compensation systems must also provide workers with the compensation they deserve in a fair and transparent manner,” says Bruske. “Easy access to the rehabilitation and vocational services they need is also essential.”

Workers demand that governments have their backs, so they can get back on track: “Any shirking responsibility for injured workers by employers and governments is simply unacceptable: it’s time for safe work, now.” 

The post On Injured Workers Day, Canada’s unions say: safe work now! appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

OTTAWA — Today marks a significant milestone in the history of the labour movement as Canadian Labour Congress President, Bea Bruske, and Canadian Labour Congress Executive Vice President, Siobhán Vipond, stood with NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and his caucus to celebrate the passage of Bill C-58, the legislation to ban the use of replacement workers.

The labour movement has long fought for anti-scab legislation, recognizing its crucial role in protecting workers and their right to strike. The passing of Bill C-58 is not just a legislative win but a monumental victory for workers across the country.

Walking the picket line is a tough decision, made even harder when faced with the threat of scab labour. This reality intensifies the stress on workers who are already making difficult choices for their families and communities. The use of replacement workers undermines the right to strike, escalates labour disputes, and increases hostility on picket lines. Too many workers have faced direct conflicts during strikes, threatening their safety and livelihoods. This must end.

“This achievement was made possible with the efforts of thousands of union activists across the country who stood up and demanded better from the government”, said Bea Bruske, CLC President. “With a ban on the use of replacement workers, we take a real step toward true protection for workers’ rights, restoring fairness to the collective bargaining process, less labour disruptions, avoiding work stoppages and building a more balanced economy.’’

This win is a result of decades of advocacy by the NDP alongside the labour movement. Political leaders who truly support workers understand that banning scabs is essential for fair bargaining and worker protection.

“I want to extend my gratitude to Jagmeet Singh and Alexandre Boulerice for their steadfast support and Minister O’Regan for his collaboration,” added Bruske.

We must now call for anti-scab legislation in all provinces. Quebec has had such a law for over 45 years, and British Columbia for 30 years, with positive impacts in both provinces. Strong anti-scab legislation is vital for the future of all workers, protecting their rights and restoring fairness at the bargaining table.

There is unanimous support from all MPs for banning replacement workers. The Standing Committee has carefully scrutinized and strengthened the bill.

Canada’s unions are urging Senators to pass Bill C-58 without further delays.

The future of workers and the integrity of our labour system depend on it.

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“We remember the 26 miners who died 32 years ago because of what a judge called ‘a complex mosaic of actions, omissions, mistakes, incompetence, apathy, cynicism, stupidity, and neglect’” says Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “We mourn them and honour their memory by fighting for work to be safe.”  

In 2004, after a fight led by the United Steelworkers that lasted over a decade, the Westray Law was passed, allowing for negligent employers to be prosecuted under Canada’s Criminal Code.    

Each year, roughly 1000 workers are killed and since the Westray Law took effect, over 18,000 workers have died because of their work.   

“The Law is an important tool and would save lives if it was enforced as it was intended. While not every death is the result of criminal negligence, robust and transparent enforcement of the Westray Law is needed to make work safer now,” continues Bruske. “20 years is too long for workers to wait for justice” 

The Canadian Labour Congress demands: 

• The appointment of dedicated investigators and prosecutors for workplace deaths and injuries, along with mandatory, standardized training for such positions; 
• Ensuring Crown attorneys are educated, trained and directed to apply the Westray amendments to the Criminal Code; 
• Mandatory training for police and health and safety regulators, supported by the necessary resources, on the proper application of the Westray amendments; and  
• Mandatory procedures, protocols and co-ordination in every jurisdiction for police, Crown prosecutors and health and safety regulators. 

“Workers have been advocating for meaningful enforcement of the Westray Law for 20 years,” said Bruske. “It is well past time for those employers who demonstrate a negligent disregard for the lives of those who work for them to feel the full weight of this law.” 

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This tragedy spurred years of global initiatives and campaigns. Echoing the demands of survivors and families of the victims, those efforts sought to bring forward the international fashion brands’ responsibility for the horrendous conditions of work and poverty wages in their supply chains, to call on governments to ensure the application of global labour and health and safety standards and to demand that protections for human and labour rights, including the right to form unions and the right to collective bargaining, are enshrined and protected in trade and investment agreements.

Despite years of globally coordinated efforts to bring improvements to factory safety in the sector, with major success stemming from the collaboration between international brands, global unions and governments, there remain many areas where progress has been far too slow for workers and activists.

To truly improve the situation, worker rights must be addressed globally alongside the ongoing commitments to ensure factory safety, starting with ensuring workers’ ability to organize collectively. Yet, Bangladeshi workers and labour rights activists continue to be killed and criminalized for protesting poverty wages, for trying to join or form unions, and for calling for an end to discrimination against women workers.

One key tool to ensure progress lies in Bangladesh adhering to a 5-year Road Map (2021-2026) at the International Labour Organization to improve its application of key labour standards on Labour Inspection Convention, Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention.

Regular monitoring of the Road Map process indicates that workers in Bangladesh do not have full freedom in terms of joining trade unions. Organized workers have a very limited scope to negotiate collective agreements, workers and trade union organizers continue to be subjected to violence on a regular basis, women workers are victims of discrimination, and the amendment brought to the labour law of Bangladesh is minimal.

Canada’s unions have been working with Bangladesh labour organizations and unions since before the 2013 Rana Plaza disaster to promote better conditions of work in the garment sector. On this grim anniversary, we amplify our calls for:

• Canada to pass mandatory human rights due diligence legislation that requires companies to prevent the risk of harm to people and the environment throughout their supply chain and to put in place adequate procedures to minimize the risk, remedy any existing harm, and do everything in their power to prevent future harm. If a company fails to do any of these things, the law gives people negatively impacted by the company’s actions the power to seek justice in Canadian courts;
• Brands to sign the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry, the successor to the successful Bangladesh Accord on Building and Fire Safety, to promote independent safety inspections and complaint mechanisms to ensure safer factories and prevent mass casualty incidents;
• Brands to immediately require their suppliers to withdraw all criminal complaints against workers stemming from the minimum wage protests of 2023, and reverse any other retaliatory action taken against workers;
• Bangladesh to cease the repression against Bangladeshi garment workers and recognize the fundamental rights to association and the right to organize;
• Bangladesh to investigate and ensure financial compensation consistent with international standards for all Rana Plaza victims and their families;
• Bangladesh to support the call of the families and communities of workers to build a memorial at the Rana Plaza site, to honour the lives lost and forever changed through this tragedy.

Click here to add your voice to the struggle by leaving a message commemorating victims of the Rana Plaza disaster on a virtual memorial, and by calling on major international brands to sign the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry, ensure workplace safety and recognize the rights of workers to organize, refuse unsafe work, and raise health and safety concerns.

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As we mark Earth Day on April 22, workers are on the frontline of extreme weather events, including drought, floods, forest fires, and more. They know firsthand the dire consequences facing their communities if our governments don’t address climate change. 

“Canada’s net-zero future must be built with good, unionized jobs,” says Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “Through the Sustainable Jobs Partnership Council and through real, tripartite action, we can ensure that sustainable jobs are good union jobs with decent pay and benefits to support families, communities, and the country as a whole.”  

“Through dedicated, worker-focused supports, as well as union-led, not for profit training and worker-centered regional economic development, change for the better is possible – but only if we act now,” said Larry Rousseau, Executive Vice-President of the CLC.  

“Workers are taking note of leaders who support their futures – and those who don’t. The Poilievre Conservatives fought tooth and nail against the Sustainable Jobs Act, proving yet again that they are no friend to workers,” said Bruske.

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“This is a huge win and we’re thrilled to welcome the CFLPA to our team,” said Bea Bruske, President of the CLC. “This shows how the labour movement in Canada is constantly growing and diversifying, and our collective future is brighter with the addition of the CFLPA. There are over three million CLC affiliated workers who now stand in support of the CFLPA in their ongoing fight for respect, fair treatment, and equity for CFL players”.

The Canadian Labour Congress is the largest labour organization in Canada. The CFLPA applied to join the CLC and today was voted in as an affiliate by its delegates, and per the organization’s constitution. The CFLPA and its approximately 650 members who work and support communities across Canada, will join a powerful group of unions actively working together to improve working conditions and support workers’ rights everywhere.

“The CFLPA has a proud and successful 59-year history of advocating for fair and safe working conditions for our members and using our influence to help improve the lives of all workers across Canada,” said Brian Ramsay, Executive Director of the CFLPA. “We’re very excited to formally affiliate to the CLC and bring our perspective and experience to the broader labour movement in Canada”.

“We are excited and proud to join the CLC team and the three million affiliated workers in Canada and internationally,” said Solomon Elimimian, CFLPA President. “Just like on the playing field, there is strength in numbers and this alignment makes us all stronger in our ongoing work toward ensuring fair and respectful working conditions”.

The CFLPA is the union for professional football players in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Since 1965, the Association has worked to establish fair and reasonable working conditions while protecting the rights of all CFL players. In addition to negotiating and enforcing the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the CFLPA provides a variety of member services, builds corporate and community partnerships, and works diligently for the betterment of its membership. The CLC represents over three million workers in virtually all sectors, industries, occupations, and regions of the country, and over half a million retirees.

Media inquiries:
For the CLC: Chantal St-Denis, CLC Communications
cstdenis@clcctc.ca
613-355-1962

For the CFLPA:
Brendan Heisler, CFLPA Communications
b.heisler@cflpa.com

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“Thanks to the hard work of union members across Canada, the federal government is making sustainable jobs and a shift to net zero a top priority. Workers have the expertise to help decarbonize our economy, and this bill will guarantee unions and workers seats at the table on the Sustainable Jobs Partnership Council,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “We now call on Senators to pass this legislation quickly, so we can continue this important work while keeping workers and communities at the heart of Canada’s climate plans.”

This major milestone would not have been reached without the continued advocacy of workers, and the dedication of New Democrats and the federal government. Bill C-50 will ensure that sustainable jobs are good union jobs, with good pay and benefits. It will create new sustainable jobs, help shift energy workers into sustainable jobs, and decarbonize good jobs to make them sustainable.

Workers and unions were incredibly disappointed that Conservatives chose to fight the inclusion of worker voices in shaping a sustainable future built on good, unionized, net-zero jobs. The best outcomes for workers will come from ensuring the Partnership Council is up and running as soon as possible, so workers can contribute to delivering on the investments, training, and programs to create, support and protect sustainable jobs across Canada.  

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With the government’s willingness to ban replacement workers and restore card check certification, Premier Kinew is prioritizing the well-being of working families by restoring fairness at the bargaining table.

“Although the Opposition Progressive Conservatives stalled proceedings in the chamber, it’s still a great day for workers in Manitoba. Premier Kinew’s commitment to workers is evident in the enactment of vital legislation to support them. I applaud Premier Kinew’s efforts to restore the streamlining of unionization and workplace democracy and his focus on promoting fairness at the bargaining table,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress.

Workers face difficult decisions when considering whether to walk the picket line. Though it shouldn’t be the case, financial calculations are often a factor in determining whether to exercise one’s rights and stand up for fair treatment. In these uncertain economic times, the pressure on workers is even greater, and these decisions can have profound impacts on families and communities.

The safety and well-being of workers should always be paramount, especially during labour disputes. The use of scab labour not only undermines the collective action of striking workers but also exacerbates conflict and hostility on picket lines. By pitting workers against each other and creating an atmosphere of desperation, employers further jeopardize the safety and livelihoods of all involved.

“Workers everywhere should be able to exercise their right to strike without worrying about the threat of scab labour,” continued Bruske. “I encourage political leaders across Canada to follow Premier Kinew’s lead and introduce legislation to ban the use of scab labour in their jurisdictions.”

In spite of the fact that today’s move by the Manitoba government to return to automatic certification in the province was altered by the opposition, it nonetheless represents a significant step towards empowering workers and strengthening their rights in the workplace.

Since the early 1990s, governments across Canada have prohibited labour boards from automatic certification, leading to the decline in unionization rates, also coinciding with the switch from automatic certification to mandatory voting. Requiring workers to go through a formal vote, even when there is demonstrated majority support through signed membership cards, creates unnecessary hurdles that can be exploited by employers to pressure employees against unionizing.

“Signing a union card is the best way for workers to improve their working lives. Being part of a union and having a collective agreement means stability, predictability, and better conditions for workers. This strengthens our communities and benefits our economy,” stated Bruske.

Bruske highlighted the significance of collective bargaining and the positive impact it has on workers’ well-being, emphasizing the role of unions in fostering stability and improving working conditions. “By eliminating this unnecessary barrier and returning to automatic certification, governments can uphold the integrity of workers’ rights to collective bargaining and ensure a fair and transparent process,” added Bruske.

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Canada’s unions are happy to see significant progress made on banning replacement workers, a crucial missing piece of Canada’s labour laws for decades. This was made possible by thousands of union activists across the country who stood up and demanded better from the government.

This is an important step towards truly protecting workers and their right to strike, this legislation must apply to any work regularly performed by bargaining unit workers and should not deny workers the right to legally strike by creating more essential service barriers.

We have seen years of record corporate profits while workers’ pay lagged far behind. Workers are rightly demanding fairer wages, better safety standards and respect from their employers.

By banning the use of scabs once and for all, we can take a real step towards less labour disruptions, avoiding work stoppages and building a more balanced economy—while increasing the benefits and respect workers deserve.

Now, we need Parliamentarians of all stripes to work together and amend the legislation to ensure it comes into force as soon as it receives Royal Assent. It is pivotal in order to bring immediate protection for workers’ rights and restore fairness to the collective bargaining process. We’ve waited long enough.

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