Day of Mourning 2021 – The Human Cost of COVID-19

Day of Mourning 2021 – The Human Cost of COVID-19

Canada’s unions are marking the National Day of Mourning by calling attention to the human cost of the COVID-19 pandemic. For over a year, the world has faced unprecedented upheaval due to COVID-19. The virus and its variants have wrought havoc on our society and laid bare a troubling lack of protection for workers. “Every year on the Day of…

Canada’s unions call for the immediate release of trade union leaders jailed in Hong Kong

Canada’s unions strongly condemn the prosecution of trade union leaders and pro‑democracy activists in Hong Kong. On April 16, Lee Cheuk Yan, General Secretary of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, was sentenced to 18 months in jail for participating in a pro-democracy protest organized by trade unions nearly two years ago. Four other democracy defenders also received prison…

Canada’s unions applaud overturning of Lula convictions

Canadian unions welcome the overturning of criminal convictions against former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. “At last, there is justice for Lula, Brazilian workers and people who have ceaselessly defended his innocence,” says Hassan Yussuff, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, which supported the global Free Lula campaign. On Thursday, the Supreme Court of Brazil confirmed lower court…

Canada’s unions urge Conservatives to join with government and opposition parties to swiftly pass EI extension

Canada’s unions are calling on the federal Conservatives to stop unnecessary procedural delays and political posturing and join with the government and opposition parties to extend EI benefits. Members of Parliament are currently debating Bill C-24, which would extend EI benefits, currently set to begin expiring at the end of March, by another 24 weeks, or into the fall. “Politicians…

#WeAreTheRecovery: Pandemic response must centre women’s economic justice

Canada’s unions are marking International Women’s Day by calling on the federal government to focus on women’s economic justice in their pandemic recovery plans, which must include a national, universal childcare program. “It’s no secret that the gendered impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have hurt women the most, especially those who also face other forms of discrimination and marginalization,” said…

Canada’s unions are warning federal government of looming ‘benefits cliff’

Canada’s unions are calling on the federal government to extend income support for unemployed workers until at least the end of 2021 or they will soon face a ‘benefits cliff’. The numbers of workers who are currently facing the prospect of an end to their benefits this March are staggering: 844,000 workers were receiving the Canada Recovery Benefit in late…

Canada’s unions mark World AIDS Day by calling for universal pharmacare

Canada’s unions are marking World AIDS Day by calling on the federal government to implement single-payer, universal pharmacare. This call has taken on new urgency, given that millions of workers have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 and are now struggling to pay for their prescription medications. World AIDS Day is observed every year on December 1, in support of…

Fiscal update’s emphasis on investments will spare Canadians further economic hardship and spur recovery

Canada’s unions say the federal government’s fiscal update will help the nation’s workers weather current health and economic hardships through the pandemic. Today’s update extends critical income support and economic measures to help Canadians and businesses. While today’s commitments on key priorities remain modest and reflect past promises, the government has signalled it will make further investments as the recovery…

Canada’s unions hosting virtual Action Week

People from across Canada will be lobbying MPs next week, in the first large-scale virtual lobbying event since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic exposed deep disparities and vulnerabilities in our economy and society. It has also radically changed the lives of people across Canada. Workers want the federal government to disaster-proof the economy by committing to investments…

Canada’s unions launch initiative to shine a light on harassment and violence at work

With the pandemic as the backdrop, researchers and unions are launching a national survey that aims to gauge the severity and measure the response to violence and harassment in Canada’s workplaces. “The issue of violence and harassment at work has taken on new urgency during COVID-19,” said Hassan Yussuff, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). “Workers facing violence and harassment…