OTTAWA––Workers from across Canada took to Parliament Hill this week to urge the government to create a public, universal pharmacare system.

“This government had a chance to show that they are serious about pharmacare, but we saw no mention of it in the recent fall economic statement,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “This government has been talking about implementing pharmacare for years. Canadians have waited long enough, it’s time for this government to walk the talk.”

Pharmacare is a cornerstone of the Liberal-NDP supply and confidence agreement, with the two parties agreeing to introduce legislation by the end of 2023.

“The Liberals are running out of time to make pharmacare a reality,” said Bruske. “Hundreds of workers are in Ottawa this week to make it clear they expect the government to stand by its promise and make a universal public prescription drug plan happen and provide coverage for all.”

In addition to pharmacare, Canada’s workers are ramping up pressure on parliamentarians to pass Bill C-58 to ban scab labour and Bill C-50, the Sustainable Jobs Act rapidly.

Bill C-58 is currently being debated in the House and Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative Caucus have yet to state a clear and coherent stance on it. Despite the bill receiving support from the NDP and the Bloc Québecois, Poilievre continues to claim he needs more information before making a decision.

“Workers want to know: Do the Conservatives support the bill – support workers – or not?” said Bruske. “Poilievre is loud on rhetoric and good with soundbites, but completely silent on his real agenda – workers see through his nonsense.”

“In not clearly stating his support of Bill C-58, Pierre Poilievre has once again shown his true colours. He can talk all he wants about being for workers, but he has a chance right now to show that he’s with them and instead of doing that he is stalling the process – just like with Bill C-50,” said Bruske. “Poilievre has a long track record of attacking workers’ rights and siding with profitable corporations over everyday people, which makes clear the kind of leader he is. We remember when he introduced anti-labour laws and helped rich corporations pay even less in taxes and voted to cut support for unemployed workers. We know that he will vote against workers’ interests, every time.”

Canada’s unions also call on the government to take immediate action to move Bill C-50 forward and for the Conservatives to end their obstruction of the act.

“It’s time to move forward. Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives have wasted enough time. Workers see through the Conservatives’ nonsense,’’ said Bruske. “Workers and their families are struggling to make ends meet and worry that they’ll be out of work as we transition our economy. I urge the Liberal government to introduce legislation to enact universal pharmacare and to move forward with bills C-50 and C-58.”

The Canadian Labour Congress is the largest labour organization in Canada, bringing together dozens of national and international unions, provincial and territorial federations of labour and community-based labour councils to represent more than 3 million workers across the country.

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OTTAWA –– “Canada’s unions are deeply troubled by the Bell Canada Enterprises Inc. (BCE Inc.) decision to eliminate 1,300 positions during a period of heightened economic uncertainty across Canada. These job losses will cause further pain for hundreds of families.
 
“What we are seeing is another wealthy corporation justifying job cuts as part of a “reorganization.” While the company cites pandemic-related losses in its radio business, Bell could have taken alternative measures to safeguard employment while awaiting regulatory changes being brought forward by the federal government through Bill C-11 and Bill C-18. Instead, it chose to terminate the employment of 1,300 individuals.
 
“Bell’s impatience with regards to Bill C-11 has resulted in the closure of six radio stations and the sale of three others, as well as CTV’s foreign bureaus. This development is particularly concerning as Canadians rely on a strong media sector and high-quality journalism to stay informed and engaged. These cuts are a blow to democracy, and smaller communities will be disproportionately impacted.

“The layoff of experienced, hardworking, and talented journalists, who provide Canadians with accurate and unbiased news, is a great loss at a time when disinformation and misinformation are proliferating across all communication platforms. In light of these developments, the government must step up to safeguard local news and protect working people – and fast.”

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OTTAWA – Canada’s unions applaud the emphasis on workers and the inclusion of key labour priorities in the federal government’s Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act announced today. The Act, which emerged as a result of the New Democrat and Liberals’ Supply and Confidence Agreement, presents an unprecedented opportunity to foster collaboration among workers, their unions, industry, and governments to strengthen our economy as we tackle climate change.

With the mounting impacts of climate change, such as devastating wildfires and extreme storms, Canadians are witnessing firsthand the urgent need for action. “The Sustainable Jobs Act represents a significant step in recognizing the importance of good work as we fight climate change,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “By prioritizing workers and incorporating many of our key concerns, this legislation presents an opportunity to establish a model of collaboration that places workers, their unions, industry, and governments on the same path towards a sustainable and resilient economy.”

Canada’s unions call for collective efforts to achieve our climate ambitions while creating and protecting good, unionized jobs in a low-carbon economy, with pathways into these jobs for women, Indigenous and racialized workers, and other equity-seeking groups. 

The Sustainable Jobs Partnership Council will play a key role in shaping policies and decisions; workers must have a sufficient voice at the table. We will advocate for their meaningful inclusion and equal representation.

“To build a sustainable economy, workers must have a clear say in the decision-making process. Their future, as well as their families’ and communities’, should be at the heart of Canada’s plans,” said Bruske. “Workers’ voices and activism have been instrumental in pushing this government to act on climate, and without continued engagement and collaboration, Canada won’t meet its climate goals.”

Canada’s unions will continue to push Canada to meet its international commitments for a Just Transition, with investments in supports for those whose work is affected by climate change. We will press for investments to create new jobs, comprehensive training initiatives, upskilling and reskilling, skills recognition, Employment Insurance (EI), mental health support, family support, pension bridging, relocation assistance, and other essential measures. Canada’s unions also call for clear, unambiguous commitments to the central role of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) in delivering programs for workers. 

Bruske said, “The Sustainable Jobs Act signals a crucial milestone in our fight against climate change and the protection of workers’ interests. Canada’s unions stand committed to working alongside all stakeholders to ensure effective implementation towards a sustainable and equitable future for all.”

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“Working people have been dealt economic blow after economic blow over the past few years. Last month, we heard from thousands of workers about how they are feeling squeezed on all fronts. Working-class families are struggling to find an affordable place to live, put food on the table while continuing to see their wages fall further behind. Adding to the pressure is the expensive and inaccessible child care that has been a longstanding burden for too many.

“It is deeply disappointing that the Bank of Canada has decided to raise interest rates once again, hurting the working people who keep Canada’s economy going. We all want inflation to fall quickly, but the Bank of Canada’s actions will cause further hardship.

“With the Bank of Canada’s policy rate now at 4.75%, workers can expect to see the cost of housing and other necessities increase further, worsening financial strain after a painful few years.

“Instead of blunt interest rate hikes, Canadians need balanced, targeted monetary policy and interventions from governments to tackle the true causes of inflation, protect working people and their families against its effects, and put in place structural reforms that better protect our economy against market-driven shocks.

“At the CLC Convention in May, thousands of workers adopted an action plan to ramp up the pressure on the issues we are currently facing. Canada’s unions will push for strong housing reform, the expansion of quality, accessible public services including health care, public transit, dental care and pharmacare, fair taxation and reining in corporate power and, most importantly, get wages growing again by strengthening access to unions, to collective bargaining and to the right to strike.”

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“Jewish labour community activists recognized early on the interconnected nature of all struggles against discrimination, and the importance of coming together across communities to fight alongside one another to confront it. We must all follow this model as we continue to push back against the rising tide of antisemitism in Canada,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “We stand in solidarity and support of Jewish workers and community members.”

In 1936, the Canadian arm of the Jewish Labour Committee (JLC) was founded, modelled on the American Jewish Labour Committee. The JLC represented trade unions with a significant Jewish membership, which included the Amalgamated Clothing Workers’ Union, the United Cap, Hat and Millinery Workers’ Union and the International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union.

The primary focus of Jewish community activists in Canada in the 1940s was aiding Holocaust survivors who had immigrated to Canada, and advocating for the admission of Jewish refugees arriving to Canada from Europe. In subsequent years, activists turned their efforts toward tackling systemic antisemitism in Canada as a whole, including in the workplace and the labour movement. In Canada at the time, Jewish people were shut out of many universities, places of employment and other institutions, including professional associations and banks.

In 1947, as part of the Committee’s efforts to address this discrimination, JLC National Director, Kalmen Kaplansky successfully lobbied to introduce an anti-discrimination motion at the Canadian Congress of Labour (CCL). The motion, which passed, called for strong action in “the fight for full equality for all peoples, regardless of race, colour, creed, or national origin.” The following year, as the JLC began to broaden the scope of its work, viewing the struggle against antisemitism as being connected to the larger struggle against hate and prejudice, Kaplansky established a permanent committee on racial tolerance.

In the 1950s, Jewish activists were part of the fight against anti-Black racism and discrimination in Dresden, Ontario, where many restaurants and businesses excluded Black residents from service. The Toronto Civil Liberties Association led a coalition of 35 human rights advocacy organizations, women’s groups, trade unions, and ethno-cultural groups, which included the Canadian Jewish Congress, in a fight to demand a non-discrimination requirement for local businesses applying for a license. 

This Jewish Heritage Month, take some time to learn more about the history and work of the Jewish Labour Committee – click here.

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“Canada, and the labour movement have greatly benefitted from the activism and labour of Asian-Canadian workers throughout our history. These workers helped build this country while facing tremendous obstacles due to racism. And while anti-Asian racism and discrimination persist, Canada’s unions are dedicated to challenging and eliminating racism and discrimination in all their forms,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress.

Asian workers have faced rampant systemic racism from government, employers and within the communities in which they lived and worked. Asian workers also endured racism and discrimination from organized labour, when they were prevented from joining unions in numerous sectors. To address these injustices, workers organized and formed their own unions to fight for their rights.

Over the years, Asian community activists such as Joe Miyazawa, who was Japanese-Canadian, Roy Mah, who was Chinese-Canadian and Darshan Singh Sangha, who was Indian-Canadian, challenged discrimination and became leaders in their communities and the larger labour movement.

The history of Asian workers in Canada goes back to the late 1700s, when Chinese workers were first brought to Nuu-chah-nulth territory in British Columbia, providing forced labour to build early colonial settlements.

In the 1800s, an estimated 17,000 Chinese workers built the Canadian Pacific Railway, working under unsafe conditions, resulting in many workers never returning home. Thousands of Chinese migrant workers died from accidents on the job, winter cold, illness and malnutrition.

In the early 1900s, thousands of Sikh immigrant workers found work building British Columbia’s lumber and sawmilling industries, before a law was passed barring all Asian workers from holding logging licenses.

Take action this Asian Heritage Month:

• Opposing the Safe Third Country Agreement, and stand in solidarity with all those fighting for migrant and refugee justice.
• Learn more about, and support the work of some of the organizations and groups fighting for the rights of workers:
  • Asian Canadian Labour Alliance
  • Migrant Rights Network
  • Butterfly: Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network.

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Part of building psychologically healthy workplaces is preventing and addressing harassment and violence at work. Canada recently ratified the International Labour Organization C-190, the first global treaty that acknowledges the universal right to a world of work free from violence and harassment and establishes a clear framework for ending it. Governments should now create strong plans to implement it in every jurisdiction,  including stepping up prevention efforts and appropriately supporting workers whose mental health is impacted by violence and harassment.

“As we transition from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadians know that mental health is integral to overall health,” says Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “We must improve on supports built to date. Canada’s unions call on the federal government to immediately help expand the delivery of high-quality, accessible and publicly available mental health and substance use health services, such as prevention and treatment.”

Learn more about how unions can help workers take action on mental health and other disabilities by downloading the CLC’s Doing Things Differently: A Disability Rights at Work Handbook.

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April 28 is the National Day of Mourning, a day to commemorate those who have died or been injured as a result of their job. This year’s focus, “Know your rights; Use the tools; Defend our wins,” is aimed at supporting and empowering workers to actively participate in workplace health and safety.

“Workers deserve to arrive home safely at the end of the workday. We expect employers to do their part to keep workers safe, by upholding health and safety standards in the workplace, and providing necessary equipment and training,” said Bea Bruske, President of the CLC. “But we want workers to feel supported in standing up for their hard-won health and safety rights. We want to ensure that workers are empowered, not just to push back in unsafe situations, but to take an active role in the process of keeping themselves and their co-workers safe.”

Across Canada, there were 1,081 accepted workplace fatalities and 277,217 accepted lost time claims across Canada, marking a rise in cases from the previous year. 

“One death is already one too many and it should be common sense that employers invest in proven prevention tools, like empowered, well-trained health and safety committees. Yet too many employers are quick to ignore their legal duty to provide safe working conditions and are willing to cut corners in the name of saving a few dollars,” said Bruske. “Make no mistake: we will always fight to uphold workers’ rights, and we won’t back down against anyone who would weaken health and safety legislation to appease businesses.”

Canada’s unions have long fought for better enforcement of existing occupational health and safety legislation, and the Westray sections of the Criminal Code of Canada.

Empowering workers starts with ensuring they know their rights, and how to apply and defend them. Workers should also feel supported in demanding better.

“The bare minimum isn’t good enough, and the stubbornly high number of worker injuries and deaths each year proves it. Employers and governments must respect their own duty to create safe work, call out unsafe work, and be part of a culture of safety and prevention. Workers deserve nothing less,” said Bruske.

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Canada’s unions are celebrating the Senate’s decision to pass Bill C-228 (Pension Protection Act), legislation that will ensure defined-benefit pensions receive super-priority status in bankruptcy and insolvency cases.

“Pension protection has been a priority for Canada’s unions for decades. Multiple private members’ bills seeking to protect pensioners in insolvency proceedings have been defeated but with Bill C-228, our government is finally putting workers and pensioners first,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC).

“This long-overdue legislation will provide financial security and peace of mind to millions of workers and their families, by prioritizing workers’ pensions over mega-banks and executive bonuses in corporate insolvency cases,” she added.

“Defined-benefit pensions pay a predictable pension income in retirement until death, supporting not only pensioners and their families but local economies, businesses, and tax-funded services.”

Bruske said that the passage of C-228 will ensure that the injustice faced by Sears, Nortel, and Stelco workers is not allowed to happen again.

“With Sears’ bankruptcy, 17,000 workers saw the pensions they had earned and planned to rely on significantly reduced after Sears Canada paid billions of dollars to shareholders before seeking creditor protection. Too often, big banks and wealthy CEOs get paid while workers are left holding the bag. We welcome parliamentarians’ decision to rectify this disastrous imbalance,” said Bruske.

Since February, thousands of workers and retirees have taken action to urge Canada’s senators to pass Bill C-228. The CLC worked with our affiliates to help over 8,600 activists send letters and over 1,100 activists make calls to their provincial senators to show support for the bill.

Bruske added, “Opponents of Bill C-228 want to preserve the ability of companies to restructure on the backs of workers and pensioners. This is wrong and unfair. Despite attempts to stop this bill, people power has prevailed and vital pension protections for retirees and workers will finally become law – something we should celebrate.”

Bill C-228 received cross-party support in the House of Commons, before being passed by the Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy unamended. Yesterday the bill overcame its final hurdle in the Senate, passing unanimously.

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“Anti-Black racism and discrimination are deeply embedded in our Canadian institutions, policies, workplaces and society. The social and economic consequences of this have been dire for Black people, resulting in a multigenerational wage gap for members of Black communities in Canada. This is an injustice that must be set right,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC).

As demonstrated by the current Black Class Action lawsuit filed on behalf of Black federal employees in Canada, Black workers in the federal public service have not been immune to these struggles.

“The CLC stands in solidarity with Black workers and against all forms of racial discrimination. We support Black workers pursuing equity, equality, and full, fair participation in the labour market. We strongly urge the federal government to uphold the human rights of its workers and redress the injustices faced by Black federal public service employees,” said Larry Rousseau, Executive Vice-President of the CLC. Canada’s unions support the legal action taken against the Government of Canada on behalf of Black federal public service workers, past and present, who have experienced discrimination via discriminatory hiring and promotion practices.

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OTTAWA –– Yesterday, Loblaw CEO Galen Weston Jr., Empire CEO Michael Medline and Metro CEO Eric La Flèche testified before the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food about sky-high food prices. Canada’s unions are now urging the federal government to crack down on corporate greed and make life more affordable for millions of hard-pressed workers and their families.

“We welcome the long-overdue decision to make Galen Weston Jr. and other wealthy CEOs answer for their company’s outrageously high prices. Throughout the pandemic and subsequent cost-of-living crisis, we have seen grocery giants celebrate monster profits while jacking up the price of essentials,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “Exorbitant grocery bills, on top of inflationary pressures, high interest rates and stagnant wages, mean workers and their families are being pushed to the brink.”

In the first two quarters of 2022, grocery stores made around twice as much as their pre-pandemic profits. Grocery retail in Canada is heavily concentrated, with about 80 per cent of sales controlled by five major chains, including Loblaw, Empire and Metro.

Since the beginning of 2023, we’ve seen inflation decreased to the lowest rate since early 2022, yet food prices continue to soar. In January, the price for fresh vegetables was up 14.7 percent while pasta increased by 19.5 percent.

“Just last month, Loblaw predicted its profits would grow faster than sales this year. That means workers are going to take another hit, paying more for essentials like eggs and bread,” added Bruske. “Food prices show no signs of slowing down, while these grocery giants continue to report super-sized profits. This begs the question: Why does the government continue to allow these wealthy executives to gouge Canadians for essential goods, like food?”

Workers’ pay cheques are stretched further with every grocery bill, leading to tough decisions. Bruske pointed to a recent StatCan study indicating that low-income Canadians are being forced to borrow money from friends or relatives or take on additional debt to meet daily expenses due to rising prices.

A University of Saskatchewan study from October revealed that one in five Canadians skips meals because of high food costs.

“Rich CEOs cannot be allowed to continue accumulating excessive wealth at the expense of regular Canadians. Canada’s unions call on the federal government to rein in corporate greed by tackling corporate concentration, making corporations pay their fair share and redistributing proceeds to support low-income households,” said Bruske. “We also need political leadership to take strong and urgent action to make life more affordable by funding vital public services like Pharmacare, long-term care, mental health care, child care and public transit.” 

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OTTAWA––Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, made the following statement in response to the labour force data released by Statistics Canada today. 

“Today’s labour force numbers indicate that the job growth we saw plateau in 2022 has once again picked up. We are glad to see relatively broad-based job growth. However, we question whether the quality of many of these jobs will allow workers to cope with the rising cost of living, such as higher mortgage costs in 2023 when the Bank of Canada’s interest rate hikes fully work their way through the system.”  

Since inflation began to accelerate in 2021, average wage growth in Canada has consistently lagged behind CPI, forcing down real wages for many workers. Since November, year-over-year average wage growth has moderated more rapidly than inflation, falling to 4.5% in January.  

“For every day that wages lag behind inflation, workers are falling further behind. The eye-watering cost of day-to-day necessities means workers and their families are struggling. Canada’s unions call on the federal government to take action to make life more affordable. Tackling excess profits and corporate price-gouging would be a good first step which would help keep money in workers’ pockets, and the government can also assist working-class households by injecting emergency funds into affordable housing and public services like health care, child care and pharmacare.” 

Today’s numbers show that job growth was fastest in wholesale and retail trade, and accommodation and food services are among the fastest growing categories of jobs.  

“In many of these sectors where we are seeing job growth, workers lack access to a union, paid sick leave, workplace benefits, training and promotion opportunities, and even basic protections under employment standards legislation. All governments need an agenda to strengthen job quality, workplace protections, and access to collective bargaining. Ottawa should seize the moment to extend open work permits to vulnerable migrant workers and to move forward with a broad regularization program for out-of-status workers.” 

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OTTAWA — Canada’s unions welcome the federal government’s pledge to increase health funding to provinces and territories. New money being added will help address some of the challenges but with no strings attached, this deal will only scratch the surface of the problems our crumbling health care system is currently facing.

Extreme staffing shortages and years of chronic underfunding put our public health care system at risk. Emergency rooms are overflowing, children’s hospitals are swamped, and wait times for critical surgeries keep getting longer. Tragic reports of people dying as they wait in emergency rooms for care have shaken communities across Canada. 

“Health care staff are on the brink, and our loved ones cannot access the care they need. We are cautiously optimistic to hear that our federal government has committed to $196.1 billion over the next 10 years and $46.2 billion in new funding, now we need to see results,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress.

“Canadians desperately need meaningful investment in our public health care system to ensure staff are supported and our loved ones can access care when they need it. The agreement of $1.7 billion over five years to support hourly wage increases for personal support workers is encouraging, but it’s not enough and it won’t be sufficient to fix the staff shortage,” added Bruske. 

Canada’s unions are calling on our federal and provincial governments to bolster public health care by: 

• Increasing funding to the public health care system and putting a stop to for-profit healthcare; 
• Urgently addressing the critical shortage of health workers; 
• Implementing publicly funded, and delivered, Pharmacare;  
• Providing permanent and ongoing funding for public mental health services;   
• Bringing long-term care entirely into the public system. 

Bruske said that the path out of this health care crisis would require cooperation by all levels of government. “Health care is one of the most pressing issues facing our country right now. Canadians expect to see our elected leaders roll up their sleeves and get to work on rebuilding our public health care system.” 

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OTTAWA–– Hundreds of workers and labour leaders from across Canada are mobilizing to Parliament Hill today to sound the alarm about the mounting issues facing workers.

“Workers are being hit over and over again. Rising costs for necessities, high inflation and stagnant wages mean families are struggling,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC).

At the same time, public services are being pushed to their limits and our care systems are in crisis.

“With ERs overflowing and surgery wait times through the roof, our loved ones can’t access the care they need. Meanwhile workers’ rights are under attack as wealthy CEOs prioritize profits over workers’ well-being, and communities are still grappling with the effects of climate change,” added Bruske.

The event is CLC’s biggest lobby delegation to date. Delegates are meeting with MPs, cabinet ministers and senators while the Prime Minister meets with Canada’s premiers to discuss healthcare funding.

“Workers are best placed to discuss the problems we are facing — and the solutions. Workers in the care sector are stretched thin and are calling for meaningful investments in the public care system to make life more affordable and to put a stop to for-profit health care. Access to health care has to be based on need, not on someone’s ability to pay,” said Ms. Bruske. “Our future depends on investment in care, and we need those investments fast.  Not investing in care right now harms lives, livelihoods and the future of Canada – something we cannot afford.”

Energy sector workers are urging decision-makers to invest in unionized, sustainable jobs that protect their communities and the environment. Canada’s unions are also calling on parliamentarians to move quickly to pass legislation that will protect workers’ rights. Promised anti-scab legislation will ensure a fairer bargaining process that can help unionized workers make gains that benefit all workers — if the legislation is strong enough.

Members of the delegation are also meeting with several senators to discuss Bill C-228, which, if passed, will protect workers’ hard-earned pensions in the event of employer bankruptcy. Unions are calling for the swift passage of this bill.

“As they meet with workers from ridings across the country today, parliamentarians are encouraged to remember that unions have deep roots in communities everywhere, and the gains that unionized workers make benefit every worker. Canada’s economy is powered by those workers,” said Bruske.

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OTTAWA – Canada’s unions are grateful to have had the opportunity to attend a productive and constructive meeting with Minister Duclos.  We had the chance to reiterate that any new funding added to the Canada Health Transfer (CHT) must come with strings attached to ensure the money is used for public health care delivery.

Canada’s unions are calling for transparency and accountability on the part of the provinces and territories. We’re asking for a commitment from the provinces and territories to bring in and implement publicly funded and publicly delivered programs that ensure Canadians can access quality, public care.

We expressed serious concern with the provinces using public dollars to increase for-profit healthcare. We’ve seen what happens in two-tier health care systems: the most vulnerable are left behind, while the wealthiest among us are the only ones who can access care when they need it.

For-profit healthcare is more expensive to deliver than public healthcare and will only worsen the staff shortage. Patients and residents in for-profit establishments are proven to have worse health outcomes than those under public care. We need to look no further than for-profit long-term care facilities have fewer staff, lower pay, fewer care hours per resident, more bed sores and more hospital transfers.

The vast majority of people who lost their lives during the first year of the pandemic were seniors living in long-term care homes. It is a tragedy. Governments need to do better.  Canada’s unions are urging the government to bring long-term care entirely into the public system and to make the new National Long-Term Care Services Standard mandatory. 

We are also calling on the federal government to prioritize measures that will actually help improve public health care in this country. People need a universal, publicly funded and publicly delivered Pharmacare program. With almost 1 million Canadians cutting back on food or home heating to pay for their medication and another million borrowing money – there is clear urgency.

We’ve been calling for a meeting between the federal government and the premiers for a long time. We hope they will use their time together on Tuesday wisely to rise to the challenge of the health care crisis. Lives depend on it.

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OTTAWA––Canada’s unions are disappointed by the central bank’s decision to continue with its monetary tightening. The most recent consumer price index numbers in Canada and abroad showed that inflation is moderating – yet the Bank is stubbornly raising interest rates for the eighth time.  

“We certainly shouldn’t be fooled by the speculation about when the Bank of Canada will finally relent,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “The Bank has continuously raised interest rates, more than any other G7 country. The Bank seems undeterred, despite more and more voices joining Canada’s unions in calling for a halt to its tightening cycle,” added Bruske. 

Workers are feeling the pinch of higher rent and mortgage payments and rising food costs, with shocking numbers turning to food banks and community organizations to feed their families. Soaring prices for everyday necessities are affecting everyone, while workers continue to see their wages fall further behind inflation.

According to the Bank of Canada’s most recent survey, Canadians are reducing expenses and reviewing their budgets as they prepare for a looming recession.  

“The Bank of Canada says it expects inflation to return to normal by the end of 2024, but that’s two years away. In the meantime, workers are forced to make impossible choices in order to make ends meet,” said Bea Bruske. “No one should have to decide whether to pay the mortgage or put food on the table while rich CEOs continue to cash in all-time high profits.”

The government should do everything it can to help workers who stand to lose their jobs in the event of a recession. Canada’s unions have been urging the federal government to do its part to help families struggling with the affordability crisis. This must start with acting now to restore temporary EI measures until permanent improvements can take effect. We need this government to permanently strengthen our faded Employment Insurance system before it’s too late. Without Employment Insurance reform, many workers won’t have access to the benefits they need to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads until they find a new job. Decades of cuts have resulted in only two in five unemployed people having access to EI. That’s why Canada’s unions have been sounding the alarm and demanding urgent reforms. 

“We will continue to do everything in our power to prevent job losses and stave off a disastrous recession,” said Bruske. “High inflation, rising interest rates, low wages and struggling public services such as public health care are stretching people’s ability to cope every day. We hope that decision-makers will act urgently to make profiteering corporations pay their fair share in 2023 and reinvest that money in programs Canadians need,” added Bruske. 

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“On behalf of the CLC and its 3.3 million members, we congratulate Magali on her historic win. We have a long-standing relationship with the FTQ and we’re looking forward to continue this great working relationship with its new president on the issues that matter most to workers in Québec,” said Bea Bruske, President of the CLC. “I’m thrilled to see another strong woman union colleague ascend to the highest levels of union leadership in Canada. This is another important step toward equity and representation.”

Picard was previously National Executive Vice-President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. Over the past several years, she has been one of the leaders in the fight for compensation for federal public service workers impacted by the Phoenix pay system fiasco.

Picard is replacing outgoing FTQ President, Daniel Boyer.

“I want to thank Daniel for his dedicated service to the labour movement over the past four decades. As FTQ President since 2013, he has continuously fought for the protection of pension for workers in Québec, decent minimum wage, and the much-needed revision of the occupational health and safety plan,” added Bruske.  

Denis Bolduc was also acclaimed and will return for another term as Secretary General of the FTQ. The FTQ represents more than 600,000 workers across the province of Québec.

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OTTAWA — The current parliamentary session has drawn to a close, and Canada’s unions are taking the opportunity to celebrate the progress made this year for workers.  

In 2022, many workers and their families buckled under sky-high inflation, eye-popping grocery bills and stagnant wages, as well as rapid interest rate hikes, which drove up housing costs. But unions have been a strong voice to correct the Bank of Canada’s single-minded strategy of lowering inflation by raising rates, at the expense of workers. 

“Canada’s unions are working hard to fend off a Bank of Canada-manufactured recession. Throwing hundreds of thousands out of work now would be devastating,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. 

Unions urged the federal government to throw a lifeline to struggling families. Cooperation between the New Democrats and the Liberal government resulted in significant gains, including dental care for low-income children and a $500 rent subsidy for low-income renters. The GST rebate was also doubled, providing relief to many Canadians. Unions will continue to call for EI reform, which is more important than ever as Canada teeters on the brink of a recession. 

“Parliamentarians working together, across party lines, is key to progress,” said Ms. Bruske. She added that Canada’s unions would push for more cooperation to tackle the pressing challenges ahead of us.  

Unions have also led the charge against corporate greed. “When we have grocery CEOs clinking glasses with shareholders to celebrate colossal profits at the same time as one in five families are skipping meals to get by, something is broken,” Bruske added. “We hope to see progress urgently. The federal agriculture committee’s investigation into grocery store profits is a good first step and we welcome it, but there is still much that needs to be done.”  

Affordability is not the only issue on Canadians’ minds. This year, in the shadow of a health care crisis, unions helped secure $2 billion in additional funding for health care to help people access the care they need. But those funds just scratched the surface of the needs of our care systems.

“Emergency rooms are overflowing with sick kids. People are waiting up to a decade to find a family doctor. Health care workers are overworked, underpaid and exhausted. We need urgent action from our provincial and federal governments to ensure staff are supported, and everyone in Canada has access to quality, public health care when they need it,” said Bruske.  

Child care workers, their unions and advocates across the country scored a major victory when the federal government penned agreements for $10/day child care programs in all provinces. Bruske commented, “Affordable child care makes it easier for parents to work and provide for their families, and it will give children the opportunity to learn and grow in a safe and nurturing environment.” Next, we must ensure child care is accessible and workers have good working conditions.  

“We’ve made progress but we can’t lose sight of the next big challenge ahead, the climate crisis, which continues to threaten people in Canada and around the world,” said Bruske, who applauded the federal government’s $250 million investment in the Sustainable Jobs Training Centre and the Union Training and Innovation Program. “Now we expect workers to be given a seat at the table, and we’re looking for meaningful investments in sustainable jobs that will help Canada meet its climate targets,” she added. 

2022 also produced some significant wins for workers’ rights. Ontario Premier Doug Ford attempted to block workers’ charter right to strike and impose a collective agreement on low-paid education workers. He was forced to back down and sent back to the bargaining table because of the strength and unity of the labour movement across Canada.  

Unions made strides on worker-centered legislation. Bill C-228, which will protect workers’ hard-earned pensions in the event of employer bankruptcy, passed the House of Commons. Now, we urge Senators to waste no time and make sure this bill is passed swiftly. The federal government also announced anti-scab legislation, which will go a long way towards restoring fairness at the bargaining table. A major focus of next year will be ensuring both pieces of legislation pass into law quickly. 

“Canadian unions are a powerful force for good, standing up for workers and advocating for strong public services, education and health care that benefit everyone,” said Ms. Bruske. “We’re just getting started. This year, we have proven that our labour movement is stronger than ever. We are ready to do what it takes to put workers first and fight against corporate greed and injustice in 2023 and beyond.” 

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OTTAWA –– A year after the Bank of Canada received a new mandate, Canada’s unions are asking what happened to the new directions that added employment considerations when the Bank is setting Canada’s monetary policy.

“A year ago, amidst great fanfare, the Bank received direction that Canada’s monetary policy should also support maximum sustainable employment. But the Bank seems determined to manufacture a recession and risk devastating job losses,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “Paper is the traditional one-year anniversary gift, which is ironic because it now seems the renewed mandate isn’t even worth the paper it is written on.”

The framework, released December 13, 2021, set out a clear objective to target two percent inflation and that monetary policy should continue to support maximum sustainable employment for the next five years.

“We must address inflation, of course, but policymakers must consider the full consequences of these decisions on people and the economy,” said Bruske. “A recession triggered by monetary policy will mean massive job losses and downward pressure on wages. Remember, our economy is fueled by working people – not just a series of data points.”

Both the Bank and the federal government have their own responsibilities when it comes to setting economic policy. Canada’s unions have been urging the federal government to do its part to help families struggling with the affordability crisis, including by fixing our shattered Employment Insurance system. This must start with restoring temporary EI measures until permanent improvements can take effect.

“Make no mistake, costs these days are through the roof. But without a paycheque you can’t afford to pay for anything,” added Bruske. “We need to urgently expand access to EI, set a universal 360-hour qualifying rule for Regular and Special Benefits and provide up to 50 weeks of Regular EI.”

“As we stand on the precipice of a Bank of Canada manufactured recession, we must not leave Canadians who lose their jobs struggling alone, at the mercy of a broken EI system. Let’s act swiftly to strengthen our EI system so the program is there for the people who need support.”

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OTTAWA––Canada’s unions reacted with disappointment to the Bank of Canada’s decision today to rush ahead with the seventh interest rate hike this year.

“Economists have urged the Bank of Canada to let the impact of previous rate hikes take hold before taking further action that could risk causing a damaging recession. It’s regrettable the Bank of Canada rejected that advice,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “Moving ahead on another rate hike today could mean hundreds of thousands of workers losing their jobs and families losing their homes. There is a better way.”

Canada’s unions, alongside several prominent economists, have been urging Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem to take a pause on further rate hikes until the effects of previous hikes could be determined. Canada’s unions have criticized the Bank’s ongoing warnings about wage growth driving inflation, while saying little about how corporate Canada’s pricing power has been fueling higher prices.

“Central banks raise rates to cool the economy and lower inflation. But the Bank of Canada has gone further and has waged a public relations campaign warning about the phantom menace of higher wages,” continued Bruske. “There is simply no evidence of this. Real wages are down more than 5% over the past two years and continue to lag behind inflation. Meanwhile, corporate profits have ballooned to record levels. It is time for a more balanced policy approach.”

Bruske added that the government also has a role to play in helping families through this cost-of-living crisis, in particular if the Bank’s monetary policy ends up pushing Canada into a recession. This should start with fixing EI and action to address the problem of concentrated corporate power allowing companies to raise prices as much as they can get away with.

“The government should take action against price gouging, including an excess profits tax that makes profiteering corporations pay their fair share. We can then invest these revenues in targeted help to those struggling just to get by and improvements to our broken Employment Insurance system,” concluded Bruske. “At this critical moment, Canadians are looking to policy makers in government, at the Bank of Canada, and in corporate boardrooms across the country to make decisions that put the wellbeing of everyday people first.”

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You can read Bea Bruske’s full opinion editorial on the actions of the Bank of Canada here: https://canadianlabour.ca/bea-bruske-bank-of-canada-should-pause-rate-hikes-now-to-avert-a-manufactured-recession/

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“These fundamental supports shouldn’t be available only to those who can afford them. These are necessities to living in dignity and the government of Canada must act urgently to adopt the Canada Disability Benefit,” said Lily Chang, Secretary Treasurer for the CLC. “This bill was introduced over two years ago and just passed second reading recently. The benefit would have a tremendous impact in lifting people with disabilities out of the disproportionately high levels of poverty they experience today. It’s time to act.”

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

Once adopted, the Canada Disability Benefit bill – or Bill C-22 – will provide a floor for adequate income support for people with disabilities in Canada, who represent close to 40% of working age people in our country. It would be the first federal guaranteed monthly income supplement aimed at people living with disabilities of its kind in Canada.

Working aged people with severe disabilities face the highest rates of poverty in Canada.  And while inflation has skyrocketed across the country, provincial disability benefits are not index-linked. This means people with disabilities who are already struggling to make ends meet and who face existing barriers to accessing the unique and often expensive supports they need, have been hit the hardest by Canada’s ongoing affordability crisis.  

“We continue to urge parties to work together to ensure a swift passage of Bill C-22 before this session of parliament closes, so the benefit can come into effect as soon as possible,” said Chang. “We look forward to collaborating with governments and our allies in the disability rights and anti-poverty movements to ensure the implementation of the benefit is equitable and meets the diverse needs of the people with disabilities in Canada. Canada must be a place to live a life of respect and dignity for people of all abilities.”

Follow the continued advocacy efforts of organisations led by people with disabilities, like Disability Without Poverty and Inclusion Canada, for more updates on the progress of the benefit.

Take action with the United Food and Commercial Workers Canada to support the new disability benefit by urging your member of parliament to fast track Bill C-22 here.  

Learn more about what you can do to support workers with disabilities and advocate for a more accessible union and workplace here.

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This year, on the eleventh anniversary of the award, the Canadian Labour Congress is pleased to announce CUPE Local 1294 activist Sylvain Le May as the 2022 winner of the Carol McGregor CLC Disability Rights Award!

Sylvain is a union activist with over 17 years of expertise in advocating for disability rights in the post-secondary education sector in Quebec. From 2005 until 2021, he led efforts at his workplace, the University of Quebec à Montréal, to ensure the highest level of accessibility for students and workers with disabilities on campus, including leadership on several committees and working groups tasked with identifying barriers on campus and leading remediation efforts. An example of the lasting impact of Sylvain’s leadership in this work is the creation of the “Le May Code” on campus, in honour of Sylvain’s support of the building services department in constantly updating and retrofitting the building code on campus in order to ensure the highest standard for accessibility for all who visit, work and learn on campus.

The time and dedication Sylvain has given to Canada’s labour movement and to spotlighting and advocating for accessibility both at the provincial and national levels have had a far-reaching impact. For example, from 2005 to 2015, Sylvain actively took part in the work of the Labour Adjustment Committee (LAC) for persons with disabilities, which works in cooperation with disability rights associations, the labour movement and employer organizations in Quebec. He also sat on the board of the International Network on the Disability Creation Process (INDCP) for 6 years and was the president of the AQICESH (Quebec interuniversity association of advisors to students with disabilities) for 8 years.

Sylvain’s tremendous accomplishments in the field of disability rights as an activist were also recognized in 2010 by the Office of persons with disabilities in Quebec with an honorary award assigned to the unit he coordinated at his workplace for its disability inclusion work.

Finally, Sylvain’s perspectives as a disability activist have also been enrichened by his creative approach to engaging with workers with disabilities at his workplace. He is well known for his many awareness-building activities, including videos and speeches where he connects his own personal story to the need for greater advocacy on disability rights issues, as well as his unique initiatives for engagement and community building on campus such as his ‘Teas with Sylvain’, which enabled members of his union to speak out on accessibility issues on campus, and have their stories published in their union’s provincial newsletter.

In the words of his nominator, François Laplante-Lévesque, President at CUPE Local 1924 “Our Local has decided to nominate Sylvain because he is one of those persons who change mentalities through their persistence, their constant engagement and their determination. Highly esteemed by his colleagues at all levels because he does not hesitate to speak out and always does so with passion, Sylvain spares no time to make a difference in the lives and support of the brothers and sisters who reach out to him.”

Congratulations, Sylvain!

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OTTAWA — Canada’s unions are pleased to see new legislation making ten days of paid sick leave available for all workers in federally-regulated private-sector workplaces come into effect today. Access to paid sick leave is a critical tool to keep our communities and workplaces safe.

“We thank parliamentarians and the government for advancing this critical legislation. This was made possible by all of the workers and their unions who fought long and hard for these protections. Providing paid sick leave for private-sector workers in federal jurisdiction is a positive step forward — allowing workers to stay home when sick will result in better public health outcomes. The next step is to move forward to ensure all workers in Canada have access to paid sick leave,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress.

This reform will not only provide paid sick days to many workers who previously lacked them, but will also improve paid sick leave for other workers in the federal jurisdiction who will now see their number of paid sick days increase to meet the minimum standard.

While Canada’s unions welcome paid sick leave for federally-regulated workers, they will continue fighting for paid sick leave for all workers.

In a 2020 Decent Work and Health Network study of all Canadians, close to 60 percent reported having no access to paid sick days. That figure was 70 percent for those earning less than $25,000 per year, these are the workers that need it the most. A lack of paid sick leave disproportionately affects low-income and racialized workers and has resulted in worse public health outcomes in those communities during the pandemic.

“No worker should have to choose between giving up wages and staying home when sick or putting food on the table,” added Bruske. “In the current affordability crisis, workers are left facing difficult choices and they shouldn’t have to. We need to protect all workers and we urge the provinces that do not currently provide paid sick leave to do so. The pandemic taught us that paid sick leave saves lives, so what are we waiting for?”

Bruske added that the right to paid sick leave is more important than ever as cases of COVID-19, flu and other respiratory illnesses surge in workplaces and communities across the country, adding extra pressure to our over-burdened healthcare system.

“If workers can’t stay home when sick, we all pay the price. This is about community care —our ability to protect ourselves and our loved ones depends on workers being protected.”

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We know that gender-based harassment and violence continue to pose a major risk to worker safety. In 2020, the CLC’s first-ever National Survey on Harassment and Violence at Work found that 7 in 10 workers have experienced harassment and violence at some point in the last two years. Disturbingly, 1 in 3 of these incidents were perpetrated by third parties such as patients, clients, and customers. 

“Violence and harassment happens in all corner of the workforce. Every day we hear stories of nurses being attacked by patients, hotel women workers being subject to sexual harassment from guests, servers being harassed by customers, and workers in all sectors facing rising rates of third-party harassment and violence,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress.  “We know that third-party violence is a persistent and escalating issue for women, two-spirit, trans, non-binary and gender nonconforming workers who are more likely to work in public-facing sectors. Another crushing example is education workers who experience physical violence and verbal abuse from both students and parents. These are the people supporting, helping and caring for our kids. Many of these workers are further targeted by third-party violence due to systemic racism, ableism, homophobia and transphobia that permeate workplaces.”

“Addressing gender-based violence from third parties is a matter of critical urgency,” said Siobhán Vipond, CLC Executive Vice-President. “Since the pandemic began, we have seen increased rates of third-party violence and harassment against frontline workers and workers in public-facing jobs. Yet, governments and employers have taken little action and there is a huge gap in Canadian legislation in terms of third-party violence.” 

 “Canadian workers urgently need a gender-responsive and intersectional approach to address this issue,” continued Bruske. “The Canadian Labour Congress is encouraged by the news that the Federal government is taking action to implement International Labour Convention 190 on harassment and violence at work. This Convention offers a comprehensive framework for addressing harassment and violence and recognizes the disproportionate impact on women and gender-diverse workers.” 

“The labour movement wants to work with governments and employers to create a comprehensive plan for implementing C190 so we can tackle the issue of gender-based harassment and violence at work. We are calling on the federal government to hold a tripartite summit so workers, particularly workers who are impacted by gender-based violence, have a say in how the Convention is implemented. Inaction on third-party violence can be deadly for workers in Canada.”

Read more about third-party violence and harassment at work and its impacts on women, two-spirit, trans, non-binary and gender-nonconforming workers.

To read the results of the National Survey on Harassment and Violence at work click here.

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OTTAWA — Canada’s unions are happy to see Bill C-228 passed in the House of Commons today. This bill aimed to ensure that in the event of an employer becoming insolvent, the employer will have to prioritize paying pensions before addressing other financial liabilities.

‘‘Bill C-228 is about fairness for workers. We’re encouraged by the cross-party support for this legislation,’’ said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “For decades we have seen companies pay out creditors, even pay out bonuses to executives after declaring bankruptcy, while workers wait at the back of the line. We are glad to finally see workers being prioritized over banks and CEOs in bankruptcies situations.’’

We are disappointed in the actions of Liberal MP, Kevin Lamoureux, which resulted in the removal of important protections that would have given super priority to workers’ severance and termination. 

“Pensions are earned and paid for by workers, and that money belongs to them. Workers depend on that money when they retire,” added Bruske. “It is frustrating and unjust that workers are left with crumbs when a company enters insolvency.”

Bill C-228 is an important move towards protecting workers. Canada’s unions are now asking senators to act urgently and pass this bill. The Senate has an obligation to represent the interests of Canadians, particularly those who are underrepresented. Bill C-228 will provide crucial protections for workers across the country in the event that their employer declares bankruptcy.

It is important to remember that workplace pensions are not gifts from the employer. Pensions are essential to the financial security and well-being of working people in Canada. Next to their homes, pension savings are one of the most important pools of assets that workers accumulate over their lifetimes. We believe defined benefits plans are an excellent way to attract and retain employees, and we are determined to maintain and improve these plans.

“Never again should the injustice faced by Sears workers, Nortel workers, Stelco workers, and others should be allowed to happen,” noted Bruske. “We are glad to see progress on protecting people’s pensions, and making sure that workers receive what they are owed in the event a company goes bankrupt—workers should always be the first priority, not the last, and they need senators to stand up for them and pass this bill.”

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Canada’s unions are marking Trans Week of Awareness with a renewed commitment to supporting trans people in the workplace by calling for a comprehensive and targeted approach to violence and harassment prevention. Members, governments and employers must work together to ensure a coordinated response.

“The evidence is painstakingly clear. Two spirit, trans, non-binary and gender non confirming people are bearing the brunt of violence and harassment both within and outside of the workplace,” said Larry Rousseau, Executive Vice President at the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). “Almost three quarters of gender diverse respondents have faced sexual harassment and violence at work. And while no one should ever go through this, these staggering results show that gender diverse individuals are disproportionally impacted. This is compounded by the fact that these folks are also more likely to experience other forms of harassment in their day to day lives, like online harassment.”

The data from the CLC survey is echoed in a forthcoming report from Justice Trans, a national organization dedicated to increasing access to justice for Two Spirit, trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming (2STNBGN) communities across Canada. In a trans-Canadian Access to Justice Legal Needs Assessment for 2STNBGN people, Justice Trans found that 73% of respondents cited experiences of targeted discrimination and harassment as a top legal issue they have faced in their lifetime, and many cited specific instances of transphobic harassment and violence occurring both at work and in union spaces. 

The CLC recently developed Workers in Transition, a guide designed specifically for trade union leaders, union staff representatives, local executives, committee members and shop stewards to take action to support 2STNBGN workers. Some examples of actions unions can take to support trans workers include:

• Negotiating benefit coverage for the medical treatments required for life as a trans person and for gender-affirming transition; 
• Provide educational sessions for members and union reps;
• Negotiate anti-harassment training that includes harassment based on gender identity as well as homophobia and make it clear to employers that the union will challenge any attempts to discriminate against trans workers;
• Negotiate transition plans and support plans that include transition leave, benefit coverage, and plans for transitioning on the job;
• Publicise the union’s support of the rights of trans workers among the membership;
• Encourage delegates to union training and union events to use the pronoun field on name tags and tent cards to avoid misgendering each other; and
• Publish the union’s anti-discriminatory positions and news about the actions the union takes to fight discrimination.

“Trans Week of Awareness is a critical opportunity to not only look outwardly but inwardly too. We all have a role to play to better protect the rights of our trans members and ensure they have the support they need in our workplaces, in our unions and in our communities,” said Rousseau.

TWA is a week-long international visibility and awareness effort to bring to light the challenges faced by trans people in our societies. The week runs from November 13 to 19, just before Trans Day of Remembrance on November 20, which is a day to memorialise the lives of trans people who were murdered due to transphobic violence in the previous year. Learn more about TWA and TDOR here. 

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“Canada’s unions are gearing up to be a strong voice for working people and their families at the global climate summit, COP27, from November 6th – November 19th, 2022.

“Governments are making efforts to decarbonize their economies as the climate crisis wreaks havoc on communities around the globe. In Canada, our government has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. A concrete plan for workers in high-carbon industries is crucial if we are going to achieve net-zero.

“We are encouraged by the government’s commitments to work with unions on training for good-paying, sustainable jobs, the Sustainable Jobs Secretariat, and ensuring tax credits have strings attached related to job quality in the Fall Economic Statement. However, the extent of the total the government is willing to invest, and how exactly workers and unions will be engaged remains unclear.

“A Just Transition is about sustainable work that lets us meet our climate targets. It requires meaningful investments in unionized, low-carbon jobs to protect workers’ quality of life, employment, and communities as we decarbonize our economy. There must be pathways into these new jobs for women, Indigenous and racialized workers, and other equity-seeking groups. We hope to hear more details about the government’s plan for engaging workers and investing in unionized, sustainable jobs, and that the commitments Canada makes on the global stage will create the opportunities workers need.

“COP27 is an opportunity for Canada to commit to ensuring that workers benefit from the changes we must make to meet our climate targets. We will be there to make sure workers’ voices are at the table during COP27, and to ensure politicians understand that workers must be involved in decision-making about our futures.”

A delegation of labour representatives from across Canada will attend COP27.

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TORONTO – Canada’s unions stand in solidarity with the 55,000 CUPE Ontario School Boards Council of Unions (OSBCU) education workers – early childhood educators, custodians, maintenance and library workers, secretaries, educational assistants, IT professionals – asking for a fair collective bargaining process, decent work for workers and quality education for kids, and exercising their democratic right to strike.

Every family in Ontario relies on these essential education workers. Schools across the province depend on them to function. They are the backbone of our education system and they deserve to be treated as such.

Make no mistake: Doug Ford is not on the side of workers. What we are seeing in Ontario is the continuation of an alarming trend by the Ford government. Ford will always prefer to legislate than to negotiate, further oppressing workers’ rights. This is not a problem that will go away with strikebreaking legislation and it’s certainly not the last we will see of these bully tactics by the Ford government.

An attack on them is an attack on every worker in the province. With this diabolical legislation, Ford is signalling that he will come after each and every one of us – which is why we must stand together in solidarity.

Canada’s unions are sending a clear message: the labour movement is united in this fight and we will not back down.

Solidarity pickets are happening across the province on November 4^th. Locations can be found here.

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Recently, the CLC and Centre for Future Work released a report, ‘A Cure Worse than the Disease? Toward a More Balanced Understanding of Inflation and What to Do About It,’ which highlights the increasing inequality between workers and corporations. Business profits have reached their highest-ever share of GDP while workers’ share of GDP has decreased since 2019. 

“The government needs to move now on programs that will mitigate the impact of increasing costs and higher interest rates on people who are struggling. That means reforming the tax system so that corporations pay their fair share, so that investments in social programs that will ease the burden on workers can be increased,” said Bruske.

“The end of the enhanced EI measures, put in place to help workers through job losses and layoffs during the pandemic, means thousands of workers who depended on these benefits are now struggling to qualify, while costs for everyday necessities like food, fuel and housing continue to skyrocket,” continued Bruske.

“The pandemic has shown us a gap in our care systems and we are now facing a care crisis in Canada,” said Bruske. “In order to meet the current and rising care needs, the government needs to increase investments in public care services.”

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“The Ford government’s decision to introduce legislation to force the lowest-paid education workers back to work and refusal to negotiate is more proof that he is not on the side of workers. The Ford government has a long track record of trampling over workers’ rights. This is the third time this government has introduced legislation directly impacting workers.

“In the current affordability crisis, Ford and Lecce’s bill means these workers will have to decide between buying groceries or buying clothes for their children, causing 55,000 essential education workers further hardship on the brink of a recession. These frontline heroes have cared for, supported and helped our kids through the past two years. They deserve better.

“Ford’s legislative attack on workers is relentless. The Ontario government is well aware that this legislation is a direct violation of the rights of workers. Using the notwithstanding clause to rob workers of the right to free and fair collective bargaining is despicable. 

“Canada’s unions urge the Ford government to get back to the bargaining table and offer these workers the fair deal they deserve. We stand in solidarity with CUPE members ready to go on strike this Friday, in their battle for long overdue wage increases and better working conditions.”

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OTTAWA –– Today’s decision by the Bank of Canada to further raise interest rates will have devastating effects on the working people who drive our economy. 

“With corporate profits at an all-time high, workers and their families are still being forced to bear the burden of the Bank’s singular focus on driving down inflation with aggressive rate hikes,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “The Bank of Canada is determined to push the economy into a recession, no matter the impact on individual Canadians who could lose their jobs, their homes and their quality of life.”

Rising interest rates make debt more expensive at a time when workers across the country are struggling from paycheque to paycheque. An unnecessary recession would hit precarious and low-wage workers, in particular women, Indigenous, racialized, and recent immigrant workers the hardest. 

“Our economy is powered by workers. Without them contributing to the economy, this country will be in dire straits,” said Bruske. “We need an open and transparent discussion of our country’s monetary policy, the best ways to fight inflation avoiding a recession – without causing widespread harm to workers and families

A report released last week by the Canadian Labour Congress and Centre for Future Work proposed policy alternatives to rate hikes. The report explains the shortcomings of the Bank of Canada’s interest rate hikes and explores the economic costs of a recession. 

The report also demonstrates the increasing inequality between workers and corporations. Business profits have reached their highest-ever share of GDP while workers’ share of GDP has decreased since 2019. 

“Governments cannot continue to stand by while workers are asked to pay the price of an inflation crisis they did not create, while their share of national income has fallen drastically,” said Bruske.

Canada’s unions are calling on the Bank of Canada to pause interest rate hikes until the impact of previous policy interventions is clear. In addition, all levels of government must take measures to address and ameliorate the true causes of current inflation, protect Canadians against its effects, and safeguard jobs and incomes.

A copy of the report can be downloaded here. 

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OTTAWA – A new economic report outlining the risks of the Bank of Canada’s single-minded pursuit of Canada’s inflation target through higher interest rates was released today by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and the Centre for Future Work.

The report, “A Cure Worse than the Disease? Toward a More Balanced Understanding of Inflation and What to Do About It”, explains the shortcomings of the Bank of Canada’s interest rate hikes and explores the economic costs of a recession. The paper concludes by proposing policy alternatives for the Bank of Canada and the government to take in response to high inflation.

“We appear to be using a decades-old monetary policy textbook to solve 2022’s economic crisis. The Bank of Canada has already raised rates five times this year. No G7 country has raised them faster or further,” said Bea Bruske, President of the CLC. “Moving stubbornly ahead with even more hikes, before gauging the full effects of measures already taken, risks a damaging recession that would make things much worse. We need a pause to save Canadian jobs.”

The report, authored by Centre for Future Work Director Jim Stanford, takes on bad-faith narratives around the causes of inflation, summarizes the current economic challenges facing Canadian policy makers and looks at the real toll a recession would take on workers and families.

“A recession would mean higher unemployment, lost incomes, reduced output, larger deficits, wasted capacity and destroyed lives,” explained Jim Stanford, Director of the Centre for Future Work. “The current approach of monetary austerity simply doesn’t account for the economic challenges we face today. Instead of throwing the economy into a dangerous recession just to prove we’re tough on inflation, we should take a more open-minded approach and respond with measures targeted to the real causes of today’s inflation crisis.”

Bruske added that governments also have critical roles to play in helping to mitigate the inflation crisis’ impact on people and addressing its real causes, including supply disruptions, a global energy price shock and companies raising prices to what the market can bear.

“A policy-induced recession now will make things even worse, with precarious and low-wage workers – in particular women, Indigenous, racialized, recent immigrant workers – hit the hardest,” warned Bruske. “But government can help through fiscal, labour market, and social policy measures that blunt the impact on vulnerable families.”

“Let’s embrace alternative approaches that put the wellbeing of people at the heart of our nation’s monetary and fiscal policies,” concluded Bruske.

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To arrange an interview with:
Jim Stanford, Centre for Future Work or Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress
please contact:
CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca
cell: 613-526-7426
Download a copy of the report here.

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We are also encouraging Canadians – particularly those who have most benefitted from colonialism – to take the time to learn about Canada’s colonial past and to take meaningful action towards supporting Indigenous communities in their quest for justice. Visit the CLC’s Indigenous Rights and Justice Resource Centre for tools to help advance our collective work, like tangible actions individuals can take to support Indigenous workers in their workplace, union and community.

“This federal government has made many promises of action on reconciliation. It’s time to follow through on those promises,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). “The horrific discoveries of the remains of so many Indigenous children in mass and unmarked burial sites at former residential schools is a shattering consequence of Canada’s colonial actions. However, we must remember that this isn’t something from the distant past – Indigenous communities continue to face violence, oppression and systemic discrimination to this day. It’s up to all of us to acknowledge this and take action against it.”

September 30, historically known as Orange Shirt Day, is a day to remember and honour all the Indigenous children stolen from their families and communities, and sent to residential schools. Here they experienced widespread violence and abuse, the generational trauma of which has had a lasting impact. It is also a day to mourn all the children who never returned home.

Missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people, the over-representation of Indigenous children in the child welfare system, persistent drinking water advisories and disproportionate rates of incarceration are all the result of continued systemic racism and discrimination against Indigenous communities.

“On this day, we encourage everyone to show solidarity with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples by reflecting on the history of the residential school system and the harms it caused – and continues to cause – to Indigenous people in Canada. We must reflect on what action each of us must take in order to be strong allies in our workplaces, unions and communities,” said Lily Chang, CLC Secretary-Treasurer.

What you can do:

• Send a letter to the Prime Minister urging him to follow through on his government’s promises to take concrete action on reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
• Find and join an event or action in your area or online to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, such as the Yellowhead Institute’s “A Calls to Action Conversation on Truth and Reconciliation” on September 29.
• Read about Orange Shirt Day and wear orange to show your support for Indigenous communities impacted by residential schools.

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OTTAWA––As Canadian families struggle to afford their grocery bill and as profits for grocery chains grow, Canada’s unions are calling on governments to take action on greedflation and the role it has played fuelling the ongoing inflation crisis.

“Rising prices on family essentials is making life so difficult for families today. But it’s not a new problem. Food price inflation has led general inflation for decades, with the average grocery bill rising an astounding 70% in the past twenty years,” said CLC President Bea Bruske. “At the root of this problem is corporate concentration. The few companies that control much of the Canadian market have taken advantage – leading to record profits.”

Bruske noted how two companies, Cargill and JBS Foods, slaughter 95% of Canadian cattle. Another two companies, Weston Bakeries and Canada Bread, make up 80% of our nation’s bread market. Meanwhile, Loblaws, Sobeys, Metro, Walmart, and Costco hold a combined almost 80% of Canada’s grocery-market sales.

“Canada has one of the most concentrated food systems in the world. This means food corporations have the power to raise prices and extract huge profits,” said Bruske. “The government must step in, determine the role corporate concentration and pandemic profiteering is having on rising food prices, and take strong and direct action to address the problem.”

Bruske added that this can start by supporting the NDP’s motion that will be tabled at the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food calling for a study on profit-driven inflation in the grocery sector and examining record profits of large grocery chains’ CEOs while employees’ wages are stagnant and the cost of groceries keeps rising.

“We urge the government to work on policies that ensure workers and their families are not made to pay for an inflation crisis they did not create,” concluded Bruske. “It’s time greedy companies that are driving up prices and earning huge profits are made to pay their fair share.”

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

The post Grocery greedflation leaves families paying more for food appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“Canada’s unions were pleased to have the opportunity to meet with the Governor and Deputy Governors from the Bank of Canada and brief them on the realities facing workers and their families today.

“While we understand and respect the Bank of Canada’s mandate to independently set monetary policy, we remain deeply concerned about the Bank’s preoccupation with encouraging companies to push down wages, at a time when so many workers struggle to make ends meet. We believe this approach is not consistent with changes to the Bank’s mandate that was to take the labour market and the goal of maximum sustainable employment into account when establishing monetary policies. A strong labour market and Canada’s low unemployment rate needs to be prioritized and preserved. By continuing to press for lower wages, the Bank risks overstepping their role of communicating policy and instead takes on the role of business consultant.

“We raised concerns about the Bank’s rapid monetary tightening pushing our economy into a recession, with potentially devastating impacts on everyday people. A recession would mean thousands of Canadians thrown out of work and downward pressure on wages that are already lagging well behind inflation. Mortgage and loan defaults could skyrocket. We would see substantial damage to people’s quality of life and risk long-lasting economic harm for workers and their families.

“It is critical to remember that our economy is not just a series of data points on a line graph, our economy is driven by working people. Families of all shapes and sizes, in communities large and small. Should our nation’s monetary policy decisions trigger an unnecessary recession we know that precarious and low-wage workers, in particular women, Indigenous, racialized, recent immigrant workers, are hit the hardest. Reducing consumer confidence with policies that target the welfare and wellbeing of the most vulnerable is not the pathway to the economy we want to build. When workers prosper, our economy grows and strengthens.

“The prudent thing to do right now would be to slow down interventions designed to slam the brakes on Canada’s economy. The Bank should hold off on further interest rate hikes until we can see the result of the sharp policy actions already undertaken. The economy is already starting to cool, as we have seen with contractions in sectors like real estate.

“We must ensure that the medicine is not worse than the disease.

“It is the Government of Canada that is ultimately responsible for setting our nation’s fiscal policy. We urge the government, as it has through its recent agreement with the NDP to provide targeted inflation relief, to adopt policies that ensure workers and their families are not made to pay for an inflation crisis they did not create. In this regard, the lack of government action to crack down on price gouging, greedflation and making corporate profiteers pay their fair share is of particular concern.

“We are also worried about how some Conservative politicians use overblown rhetoric around how Canadians are suffering while suggesting the way forward is to actually cut government help for families struggling with an affordability crisis. While this approach is consistent with the Conservative Party’s past record of cutting health care and other services people rely on, cuts like this today would make life substantially harder for thousands of working families.”

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

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OTTAWA – Canada’s unions are urging members of Parliament to stand up for workers and their families by acting urgently to extend temporary Employment Insurance rules until a permanent fix can be implemented.

“Unless MPs and the government take action this week, the EI program will revert to the old pre-COVID rules, leaving thousands unable to access benefits. Precarious workers, many of them women and racialized workers, would be hit hardest,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “People are still facing enormous challenges. Reverting EI back to Harper-era rules will mean thousands of workers are unable to access help, just when they need it most.”

Bruske explained that the end of the enhanced EI measures, put in place to help workers through job losses and layoffs during the pandemic, means thousands of workers who still depend on these benefits will struggle to qualify, while costs for everyday necessities like food, fuel and housing, continue to skyrocket.

‘’It is wrong for the government to now abandon people being thrown out of work,’’ added Bruske. “We need our elected representatives to urgently work together to extend temporary measures until Canada’s broken EI system can be permanently improved, as the government has promised to do.”

Bruske added that Canada’s unions welcomed New Democrats and Liberals working together to provide emergency help for people and urge all parties to now work together to fix EI, hold mega-profitable corporations to account and make sure struggling families are not left behind.

“Pierre Poilievre has a record of cuts to health care, cuts to support to the unemployed, and attacks on workers. Now, while Poilievre and the Conservatives talk loudly about inflation, they actually oppose help for families in need,” said Bea Bruske. “As so many families continue to struggle with the ongoing affordability crisis, it is critical MPs from all parties now come together to help families in need and make sure companies making colossal profits are made to pay their fair share.’’

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613-526-7426

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OTTAWA – As Parliament reconvenes this week, Canada’s unions are urging Members of Parliament to put aside glib rhetoric and work together to provide relief for those who need it most amid the ongoing affordability crisis. Today’s inflation numbers showed that while CPI has begun to level off, grocery prices continue to increase at rates not seen in over four decades, while workers’ wages lag behind.

‘’Everyday necessities like food, fuel and housing eat away at more and more of workers’ hard-earned paycheques. Meanwhile, large corporations see their profits soar while their employees’ wages lag behind. Canada’s affordability crisis has been made even worse by rich corporations cashing in at the expense of struggling families,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress “MPs have an opportunity when Parliament reconvenes to help struggling families and make these profitable corporations finally pay their fair share.”

Bruske added that Canada’s unions welcome recent cooperation between New Democrats and the Liberal government to provide targeted help and put money back into the pockets of Canadians.

“This is a prime example of how democracy should work, and we need more of it. Dental care for kids, doubling the GST rebate, making housing more affordable. Politicians finding common ground and getting targeted help to people who really need it,” continued Bruske. “We really have to question those opposed to this collaborative approach. How can Conservatives like Pierre Poilievre talk so loudly about the challenges families face and then oppose this concrete help for those who need it most?”

Bruske added that with some of our most essential workers are being hit the hardest, Canada’s unions recently launched a campaign calling for increased investments in care services and improved working conditions for care workers.

“We need our elected representatives from across the political spectrum to recognize that we will all need care at some point. Care work is essential and care workers must be properly supported,” concluded Bruske. “With a crisis facing public health care and the chronic underfunding of Canada’s care economy, addressing the care crisis must be a priority for MPs.”

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To arrange an interview, please contact:
CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca
cell: 819-209-6706

The post Politicians must put aside the rhetoric and fix the affordability crisis appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“The global care economy is in crisis. Here in Canada, underfunding, privatization and a lack of resources and supports for care workers has led to critical understaffing,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “Each of us will need care at some point in our lives, but the shameful undervaluing of care workers – who are mostly women – has brought our care systems to the brink of collapse. Care workers are there for us during some of our most vulnerable moments, so we must support them in demanding better. Governments can’t claim to want to achieve pay equity while simultaneously ignoring the care crisis.”

In Canada, care jobs employ roughly one fifth of all workers, with women occupying 75% of those positions. Canada benefits greatly from both paid and unpaid care, with these services contributing tens of billions of dollars to the country’s economy. But successive rounds of cuts and concerted efforts at privatizing services have created a patchwork system, which is struggling under the weight of chronic underfunding and now, a global pandemic.

Meanwhile unpaid care, which is most often done by women, can impact women’s participation in the job market. Care responsibilities can significantly hinder a woman’s ability to access and maintain a good, stable job with decent pay.

Canada’s unions recently launched Show We Care, a national campaign aimed at raising the profile of care workers in Canada and addressing the mounting care crisis.

In Canada, it is estimated that the increased demands for care driven by the ageing population will add $93 billion to health care costs by 2028. And yet, according to the OECD, Canada falls near the bottom among wealthy countries in public expenditure on social services. The tragic losses of life in for-profit long-term care homes point to the failures of the private, for-profit model. These institutions have less staff, fewer hours of care per resident, more complaints from residents and family, more acute care hospital admissions, and higher mortality rates than public long-term care homes.

“Chronic underfunding has led to an erosion of available care, which has drastically increased the cost of care services. In addition to insufficient wages, poor working conditions, lack of support for workers, and harassment and violence in the workplace are driving workers out of the care sector,” said Siobhán Vipond, Executive Vice President of the CLC “To mark International Equal Pay Day, Canada’s unions are calling on our federal government to make immediate investments across all care sectors, to lift wages for underpaid care workers and ensure good jobs that result in high quality care for people in Canada and their families.”

International Equal Pay Day – marked annually on September 18 – was created by the United Nations General Assembly in 2019 and first marked in 2020.

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OTTAWA –– Today’s latest rate hike on top of the ongoing inflation crisis means more struggling families are facing an ever‑tightening financial squeeze.

Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, said with the House of Commons returning in less than two weeks, it is critical Parliament returns to work ready to act urgently to address the affordability crisis.

“Workers and their families must not be asked to pay the price for high inflation, while greedy corporations grow richer and richer. Politicians must hold these mega-profitable corporations to account for taking advantage of this crisis to pad their profits,” said Bruske. “With so many struggling to afford the skyrocketing prices of daily essentials, decision makers must put Main Street, not Bay Street, first.” 

Bruske added that with corporate profit margins at a historic high, profitable companies must now be asked to do their part. Governments can not continue to stand by as wages and workers’ share of national income has fallen drastically.

“While European countries are taxing energy companies’ exorbitant profits to invest in emergency supports for workers and their families, Ottawa has failed to act,” said Bruske. “With the top four energy companies in Canada bringing in an astounding $12 billion in the second quarter alone, it is vital for highly profitable corporations to finally be made to pay their fair share.”

Bruske also noted that while inflation may have finally peaked, the cost of living for workers and their families is still well above the central bank’s two-percent target and inflation is predicted to stay well above this target for some time.

“With so many workers experiencing month after month of their paycheques lagging behind and their buying power going backwards, we continue to urge the Bank of Canada governor to stay in his lane – and out of the collective bargaining process,” concluded Bruske.

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To arrange an interview, please contact:
CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca
819-209-6706

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OTTAWA––Canada’s unions welcome today’s announcement by the federal government that they will finally live up to their commitment to ratify the International Labour Organization Convention no. 190 (C-190) on Violence and Harassment.

“We are happy to see Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan’s long-awaited announcement that the federal government and all provinces are now on board with ratification of this vital international agreement to better protect workers from violence and harassment. Work shouldn’t hurt,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “Canada’s unions have been fighting to ratify this for years. Now we must build on this momentum and swiftly implement this agreement.”

C-190 is a ground-breaking international agreement that acknowledges the universal right to a world of work free from violence and harassment, makes governments accountable for preventing and addressing this violence and harassment, and establishes a clear framework for achieving this.

“We saw frontline health workers subject to harassment and violence as they cared for us. We saw increased domestic violence with more people working at home. We saw growing incidents of violent discrimination,” continued Bruske. “The fact is, women workers are disproportionately hurt by harassment and violence at work, while women, gender-diverse people, and other workers facing harassment and discrimination face additional barriers to reporting incidents. We must do better.”

Bruske pointed to a survey the Canadian Labour Congress released earlier this year that revealed widespread evidence of harassment and violence at work in Canada. Some sectors and jobs expose workers to an even higher risk of violence, including from third parties, as we saw against health workers during the pandemic.

“Too often, workers in Canada today are not protected by existing legislation, leaving them vulnerable and threatening their safety at work. C-190 is a comprehensive and inclusive agreement that, once implemented, will help make all workers safer,” concluded Bruske. “Canada’s unions are ready to get to work with governments and employers on a plan to swiftly implement these new protections. Together, we can build a world of work free of violence and harassment, in all its forms.”

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

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OTTAWA––As families in communities across the country face closures of emergency departments, hospitals, intensive care units and birthing centres, Canada’s unions are demanding quick action from Canada’s leaders to address this health care crisis.

Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, has written to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau demanding he call an emergency First Ministers’ meeting and reconvene parliament in order to urgently shore up our public health care system.

“Parents shouldn’t live in worry that they take their child to Emergency only to find it shuttered. Our crumbling public health care system is facing a crisis that requires leadership from all levels of government,” warned Bruske. “This starts with the PM and every premier coming together, working alongside health care professionals, to make sure people can access the care they need.”

Bruske pointed out that when the political will is there, quick action is possible. Canada developed a COVID response plan and had new programs up and running in weeks.

“Despite the fact health care workers have been warning us for years about chronic underfunding and a coming staffing crisis, governments failed to act. Then COVID-19 revealed to everyone just how unprepared we were for a crisis,” continued Bruske. “Let’s take the right lessons away from the pandemic and come together, across party lines and at all levels of government, to solve this crisis.”

Bruske added that it is critical that the voices and experiences of frontline nurses and other health workers – who are burning out in record numbers – are at the centre of measures governments bring forward. This must start with provinces reversing laws that took away bargaining rights from health workers.

“Canadians have long expressed their pride for Canada’s universal public health care system. But instead of supporting the workers who deliver this care to Canadians, some governments passed Draconian laws that took away their rights and cut their pay,” concluded Bruske. “Governments must now work collaboratively with health workers on lasting solutions that build a more resilient public health care system.”

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Link to the official letter here.

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

The post Bruske to PM: Work with premiers to fix Canada’s crumbling care system appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“Canada’s health care workers are looking at yet another summer without a break as terrible staffing shortages put an unbearable strain on the people who deliver care,” said Bruske, who was in Victoria this week to engage the premiers. “Canada’s unions support the premiers’ call for increased investments from the federal government. But new funding must include accountability and be tied to strengthening public health care and addressing the dangerous shortage of health workers.”

Bruske said new investments must also be linked to action that ensures all Canadians have access to affordable medicines and dental care; establishes standards and gets profits out of long-term care; and fights back against creeping privatization, so quality public health care is there for generations of Canadians to come.

“Frontline health care workers have been warning for years about the damage chronic underfunding has been doing to our public health care system, damage laid bare by the pandemic. Sadly, governments failed to heed these warnings,” continued Bruske. “Now, only provincial, territorial and federal governments working together with health care workers can fix this crisis.”

Bruske added that Canada’s unions wanted to thank B.C. Premier John Horgan for putting health care front and centre for the Council of the Federation.

“Let me add a sincere thank you to John Horgan,” concluded Bruske. “As chair of the Council, Premier Horgan has put strengthening health care at the centre of the premiers’ agenda. His positive and constructive leadership will be missed.”

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“Extreme staffing shortages and years of chronic underfunding are placing an unbearable strain on health workers and putting our public health care system at risk,” said Bruske. “Canada’s unions will be in Victoria to bring a clear message to the premiers from workers: we need urgent action to strengthen health delivery, improve access and make sure Canada’s public health care system is there to care for Canadians, for generations to come.”

Bruske said that repairing the public health care system will take the combined efforts by all levels of government and warned that Canada’s unions will strongly oppose any attempts to further privatize Canadian health care.

“We agree with the premiers that fixing health care requires substantial additional investments from the federal government. But new funding must include accountability for improving the delivery of health care,” continued Bruske. “Creeping privatization undermines access to quality care and must be stopped in its tracks.”

Bruske added that Canada’s unions are looking to the premiers to agree on urgent action to fix health care worker shortages; improve access to care; implement pharmacare; establish a standard of care and get profits out of long-term care; invest in mental health care; and ensure affordable dental care is there for everyone.

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613-355-1962

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“Today, the Supreme Court of the United States delivered a devastating decision to overturn the landmark precedent set 50 years ago in Roe v. Wade. The decision to rule against the constitutional right to access safe and legal abortion care jeopardizes the reproductive rights of millions of Americans.

“Canada’s unions are reacting to this decision with deep concern and a renewed commitment to redouble our efforts for equitable access to abortion care and reproductive health services across our country.

“Access to safe, legal abortion is a fundamental human right that must be guaranteed to everyone and should not be a privilege related to the colour of your skin, where you live or how much money you have. Taking away peoples’ reproductive health and rights is wrong and will inevitably impact poor and racialized communities the most.

“Abortion bans do not stop abortion. They only make abortions harder to access and more dangerous, particularly for communities who are already marginalized. The World Health Organization estimates that 25 million unsafe abortions take place each year, and identifies that the lack of safe, respectful, timely abortion care services is a critical public health issue and leading cause for maternal deaths and morbidities world-wide.

“While abortion is decriminalized in Canada, barriers to accessing this essential health service persist. These barriers include a lack of accurate information, travel and other costs associated with accessing care, wait times, and gestational limits. These barriers disproportionately impact low-income, young, newcomer and racialized populations, as well as people with disabilities, and those living in rural and remote communities.

“Anti-abortion movements, attacks on 2SLGBTQI communities, and the growing tide of right-wing extremism, are well funded movements that have no borders. We must remain vigilant in standing up for the rights of all people.

“While there is still much work to do here in Canada, we remain committed in our solidarity to all advocates and activists continuing the fight for bodily autonomy and gender justice, in the United States and around the world.”

For more information about sexual and reproductive health and rights in Canada:

Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada: https://www.arcc-cdac.ca/

Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights: https://www.actioncanadashr.org/

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

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“Pensions are a deferred pay cheque. Workers have put in their hours, their hard work, and have earned those pensions. That investment deserves to be protected,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “At a time when so many families are finding their budgets tight and anxiety around finances rising, it is important for workers to know their pension is protected.”   

The Canadian Labour Congress has been advocating for changes to the Bankruptcy Act and the Pensions Benefit Act for decades. Canada’s unions have worked alongside many New Democrat MPs over the years; including Daniel Blaikie (C-225), Scott Duvall (C-259) and Pat Martin (C-281), to previously bring forth elements of today’s Pension Protection Act (C-228). With today’s cross-partisan collaboration, MPs can now make protection for Canadian pensioners the law.

“For decades we have seen companies pay out creditors, even pay out bonuses to executives after declaring bankruptcy, while workers wait at the back of the line,” added Bruske. “The current law says if a company goes bankrupt, their taxes, lenders and suppliers are all paid before employees get their pensions, severance, or even are paid their wages for work they’ve already completed. This is unfair.”

Opposition MPs have now agreed on amendments so the Pension Protection Act, in addition to covering pensions in bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings, will also protect termination and severance pay of workers. The bill, with support of these three parties, will now move on to the Finance Committee for review and amendment before returning to the House for final approval. It now has sufficient support to become law.

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