Canada’s unions applaud expansion of income supports

Canada’s unions applaud expansion of income supports

OTTAWA – Canada’s unions welcome today’s federal announcement of an expansion of the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to include those who are still making moderate incomes. “The expansion of the CERB to include those continuing to work in low-income, precarious jobs is an important step,” said Hassan Yussuff, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). “This move will be a…

Canada’s unions join #VirtualDayofPink with a renewed call for solidarity against homophobia and transphobia

In 2020, we are celebrating International Day of Pink – a day to raise awareness and combat homophobic and transphobic bullying and harassment – in the context of a global pandemic. While many us are making sure that we #stayathome, we still need to be aware of the threat of homophobic and transphobic violence that persists online, at home, and…

Credit card relief now

Canada’s unions are calling on Canada’s banks and credit card companies to step up and take action to support families through the COVID-19 crisis by reducing sky-high credit card interest rates. “The Bank of Canada has reduced its lending rate to historically low levels and that means it’s cheaper for financial institutions to borrow money,” said Canadian Labour Congress President,…

Equal Pay Day: Recognizing the Value of Women’s Work

April 4, 2020 marks the day women’s median earnings in Canada finally catch up to men’s median earnings from last year. This year, Equal Pay Day takes place with the backdrop of an unprecedented test for workers, their families and the economy: the COVID-19 pandemic. “It takes 16 months for women’s median earnings to catch up to what men make…

Canada’s unions say marginalized workers must not be forgotten during pandemic

Canada’s unions are marking the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination by calling on the federal government to protect the rights of marginalized workers and refugees as part of its COVID-19 response. Migrant workers, undocumented people, people living on low-incomes, international students, racialized workers and refugees are particularly vulnerable to the health fallout of the current pandemic, as…

Canada’s unions welcome government aid for workers

OTTAWA – The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) is pleased with measures announced today by the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance to help Canadian families deal with the major upheaval the country is facing. Vulnerable workers are at the front lines of the current crisis, in our hospitals, grocery stores and pharmacies, making sure Canadians have access to the food and…

Business and Labour come together to mitigate COVID-19 risks

OTTAWA – The Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) issued the following joint statement today in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: “The Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the CLC are uniting our response efforts to ensure all appropriate measures are put in place to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 for Canada’s employers and employees. “Canada’s economy,…

Support workers to stem the spread of COVID-19

OTTAWA – Canada’s unions are calling on the federal government to implement all measures necessary to protect jobs and ensure public health measures stop the spread of COVID-19. “Canadian workers are in a very tenuous situation right now. The majority have no paid sick leave and low cash reserves to buffer against unemployment. For many, missing work is not an…

#DoneWaiting: Make Canada a Leader in Global in Gender Equality

This International Women’s Day, Canada’s unions are calling on the federal government to meet its international obligations and show real progress towards women’s equality and economic justice. “We know some steps the federal government can take right now to be a global leader in gender equality—if they are bold enough,” said Marie Clarke Walker, Secretary-Treasurer of the Canadian Labour Congress.…

Canada’s unions call for fairness to mark Black History Month

To mark Black History Month this year, Canada’s unions call on the government to take meaningful actions to address the disparities in employment for Black workers. Statistics show workers of colour are more likely to be employed in precarious, low-wage jobs with no benefits. These workers also have higher unemployment rates. In fact, the unemployment rate of Black women is…