Public country-by-country reporting would require large multinational corporations to publicly disclose where they generate profits, where they employ workers, and how much tax they pay, using data companies already submit privately to tax authorities.

Despite collecting this information, Canada keeps it out of public view, unlike in the European Union and Australia. As a result, $22–25 billion in corporate profits are shifted out of Canada every year with little scrutiny, weakening workers’ bargaining power and draining revenue needed for public services and infrastructure.

WHAT:             Comment on unions’ demands for greater corporate tax transparency

WHEN:             By arrangement

WHO:               DT Cochrane, senior economist at the Canadian Labour Congress 

QUOTE:

“We were told cutting corporate taxes would lead to more investment and better jobs. Instead, corporations shifted profits into tax havens and paid out shareholders, while working families were left behind. Public country-by-country reporting would shed light on how corporations avoid taxes. The data already exists, other countries have acted, and it’s a no-brainer for Canada to follow suit.” —DT Cochrane

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

The post Unions Call for Corporate Tax Transparency as Billions Shift Offshore appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Canada’s trade policy is failing workers, families and entire communities. For too long, decisions have been made behind closed doors that cost Canadians their jobs, hollow out our industries, and weaken our public services.

The message to parliamentarians is a simple one: Labour has a clear plan and it must have a seat at the table.

WHAT: An economic strategy and future trade deals must centre workers

WHEN: Wednesday, February 4 at 1:15 PM ET

WHERE: Rogers Centre (55 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa), Trillium Room or via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82682528884 (Meeting ID: 826 8252 8884)

WHO:

• Bea Bruske, President, Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)
• Lana Payne, National President, Unifor
• Mark Hancock, National President, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
• Marty Warren, National Director, United Steelworkers (USW)
• Sharon DeSousa, President, Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)
• David Chartrand, General Vice-President, Machinists Union (IAM Union)

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

The post Labour movement to Parliament: it’s time to put workers at the centre of Canada’s trade strategy appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Workers will be meeting with MPs to push for concrete action on affordability, health care, trade and tariffs, and rebuilding strong public services. CLC President Bea Bruske will outline how the federal government’s 2025 budget failed to address the daily realities facing workers and what working people are demanding instead.

“Budget 2025 leaves workers behind. It ignores the crushing cost of living, the cracks in our public services, and the strain on frontline workers who keep this country running. Workers showed up today because this government didn’t. We’re here to demand a plan that actually puts working people first.”–Bea Bruske, CLC President

WHAT: Budget 2025’s failure to support working families
WHEN: Monday, November 24, at 6:15 PM ET
WHERE: Rogers Centre, Ottawa (55 Colonel By Drive), Trillium Room
WHO: Bea Bruske—President, Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)

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

The post Budget 2025 misses the mark: Workers demand real action appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

CLC Senior Economist, DT Cochrane, will also participate in the lock-up and be available for comment following the budget’s release. 

CLC Executive Vice-Presidents Siobhán Vipond and Larry Rousseau will be available for comment following the budget release (but will not be part of the lock-up). 

Budget 2025 Media Lock-Up Details 

Date: November 4, 2025 
Location: John G. Diefenbaker Building, 111 Sussex Drive, Ottawa 

Media Availability: 

• CLC President, Bea Bruske — in lock-up from 2:30 p.m. until the release; available in the foyer afterward 
• CLC Executive VPs, Siobhán Vipond & Larry Rousseau — available by request only 
• CLC Senior Economist, DT Cochrane — in lock-up all day; available in the foyer afterward 

“For workers, the test of this budget is simple: will the richest corporations finally pay their fair share so we can invest in people, good jobs, and communities? Workers can’t keep carrying the load while profits soar.” – Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress 

“What matters in Budget 2025 is whether it delivers real job-creating investments in housing, public infrastructure, and a net-zero future while ensuring workers can move into secure, union jobs with fair wages and benefits.” – Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress 

“Canada has the capacity to build a fairer, more resilient economy, but only if we stop letting concentrated corporate power dictate our priorities. This budget must shift us from short-term profit-first thinking to generational investment in people, productivity, and shared prosperity.” — DT Cochrane, Senior Economist, Canadian Labour Congress 

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

The post Canadian Labour Congress available for comment on Budget 2025 appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

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

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

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

WHAT:
Worker-First Forum with NDP Leadership Candidates

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

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

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

WHO:

Moderator
Bea Bruske – President, Canadian Labour Congress

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

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

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

Postal services in Canada are under attack, and postal workers are bearing the brunt of decades of bad business decisions made by wealthy executives.  While executives collect massive bonuses, workers are being squeezed. Our communities need reliable, door-to-door delivery that puts service before profit.

Canada Post is a public service, not a for-profit company—and the workers delivering that service deserve fair contracts, decent wages, job security, and safe working conditions.

This rally will serve as a powerful reminder that workers’ strength comes from our unity. This is more than a protest: it’s a fight for the future of good jobs and a strong public postal service in Canada. Together, we will send a clear message to MPs and decision-makers that postal workers deserve better.

WHAT:            Rally in support of the Canadian Postal Service and CUPW members

WHO:              Siobhán Vipond & Larry Rousseau, CLC Executive Vice-Presidents

WHERE:         Parliament Hill, Ottawa

WHEN:           Wednesday, October 1, 11:00 am

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

The post Postal workers under attack: labour leaders join Ottawa rally for public postal service appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

WHAT: Press conference to respond to the Bank of Canada’s rate announcement and the federal
government’s economic approach

WHEN: Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 11:30 AM ET

WHERE: Press Conference Room 135-B, West Block, Parliament Hill 

WHO: Bea Bruske, President, Canadian Labour Congress
             DT Cochrane, Senior Economist, Canadian Labour Congress

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

The post Canadian Labour Congress Responds to Bank of Canada Rates and Fall Session of Parliament appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

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

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

Bea Bruske is available for media interviews to speak about:

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

Quote:

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

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

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

This reckless escalation is a direct attack on Canadian workers, businesses, and local economies. The impact threatens to devastate Canada’s steel and aluminum industries, shut Canadian producers out of the U.S. market, and jeopardize thousands of good, unionized jobs across the country.

Bea Bruske (Canadian Labour Congress), Candace Laing (Canadian Chamber of Commerce), and Carole Saab (Federation of Canadian Municipalities) will outline the urgent need for a coordinated federal response to defend Canadian jobs, businesses, and communities.

WHAT:           Joint press conference on U.S. tariffs and their impact on Canada

WHEN:          Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 1:00 PM ET

WHERE:        Press Conference Room 135-B, West Block, Parliament Hill

WHO:            Bea Bruske, President, Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)
                       Candace Laing, President and CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC)
                       Carole Saab, CEO, Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)

Please RSVP to: 
CLC Media Relations 
media@clcctc.ca 
613-526-7426

The post Canada’s Labour, Business, and Municipal Leaders Respond to Trump’s Tariff Hike appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

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

The post Patients over profits: Defending our public health care appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The labour leaders will outline the serious economic consequences these tariffs will have on workers in key sectors, including steel, aluminum, forestry, and manufacturing, and call on the federal government to provide immediate and robust support to affected workers, industries, and communities.

• What: Press Conference: Canada’s unions respond to U.S. tariffs and call for urgent federal support for workers
• When: Wednesday, April 2, at 1:00 p.m. ET
• Where: Rogers Centre Ottawa – Trillium Room (55 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Level Four) Or Via Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89501882931)
• Who: Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and Magali Picard, President of la Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ)

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

The post CLC and FTQ Presidents to Address Impact of U.S. Tariffs on Canadian Workers appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

This platform, for workers and by workers, outlines the urgent need for immediate action to protect Canadian workers and their families.

Bruske and McCormick will be joined by workers who will share their personal stories, emphasizing the real-life impacts of ongoing economic challenges.

“Workers are already doing everything right. They’re showing up, working hard, supporting their families, but President Trump’s attacks on Canada are putting their livelihoods at risk. And while their costs keep going up, they’re being left to fend for themselves. That’s unacceptable. We urge all political parties and candidates to make clear commitments to defend Canadian jobs and protect workers and their families from the crushing pressure of this economic war.”–Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress

“Workers have a lot at stake in this election. It’s time for us to demand that parties and candidates prioritize the needs of workers and their families. Through the Workers Together campaign, we’re standing up to corporate greed, pushing for fair wages, affordable housing, and policies that put people before profits.”–Jessica McCormick, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour

Event Details:

The press conference will highlight the platform’s key proposals and call for political parties and candidates to make clear, actionable commitments to support workers in this critical time.

WHO:

• Bea Bruske, President, Canadian Labour Congress
• Jessica McCormick, President, Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour

WHEN: Monday, March 24, 11:00 a.m. NDT

WHERE: Delta Hotel, 120 New Gower St.—Salon E (Harbour View) and available on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85862493438

Interviews with all the speakers will be available on-site and remotely.

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

The post Labour leaders launch “Building a Better Future for Working People” platform appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Ivaco, a major Eastern Ontario employer, has slashed over 150 jobs in just two weeks—some permanently.

Workers and communities can no longer afford government inaction.

Event Details:

WHO:

• Larry Rousseau, CLC Executive Vice-President
• Jocelyn Bernier, President, USW Local 8794
• Richard Leblanc, USW Area Co-ordinator
• Bea Bruske, CLC President

WHAT: Support workers being hit with layoffs due to tariffs

WHEN: Wednesday, March 19, 2:30 p.m. ET

WHERE: USW Hawkesbury Union Hall, 212–250 Main St. E., Hawkesbury, ON

*Note that there will not be an audio box.*

Interviews with all the speakers will be available on-site.

Quotes

“There’s a growing sense of uncertainty for those workers, and it’s hard to plan for the future when there’s constant hostility. If Ivaco goes under, the entire community will face devastation. We need stability and immediate government actions, not just for the workers, but for the entire town to thrive.”

—Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress

“The company has pointed to tariffs and a lack of orders as the reason behind these job losses and disruptions, but the real issue is the unpredictability of the situation. This uncertainty is weighing heavily on workers, and it’s not just them who are affected. The future of this facility has a ripple effect on the entire local economy.”

—Éric Fournier, president of USW Local 7940, which represents 225 workers in Ivaco’s Rolling Mills, including the 120 workers affected by the temporary layoffs.

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

The post Government action needed as U.S. tariffs cause Canadian job losses appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) President Bea Bruske will be available for media interviews following the emergency meeting.  

MEDIA AVAILABILITY: 
WHO: Bea Bruske, President, Canadian Labour Congress 
WHAT: Media availability on emergency meeting on U.S. tariffs 
WHEN: February 26, 2025
WHERE: Bea Bruske is in Ottawa and the meeting is virtual

Key Policy Items to be Discussed at Canadian Council Meeting: 

• Immediate EI measures to protect jobs and incomes. 
• Halt to public service cuts and a plan to increase support for trade apprenticeship programs. 
• Necessary actions to tackle corporate greed, keep essentials and food affordable, and prevent price gouging. 
• Strengthening domestic industries, reducing reliance on U.S. trade and ensuring continued good union jobs.  
• Investments in critical infrastructure, health care, and education. 

QUOTES:
“As these tariffs roll in, workers must be at the heart of Canada’s response,” said Bea Bruske, President of the CLC. “There is no time to wait. Workers need a bold, worker-first strategy to respond to this crisis. Families are feeling anxious. Workers expect more from their governments. Workers need strong job protections, and a plan to safeguard communities.”

“These tariffs threaten good union jobs and entire industries. Canada must fight back with a comprehensive response that strengthens our economy, reduces reliance on U.S. trade, and ensures workers aren’t left behind.”

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

The post Canada’s unions holding third emergency meeting in response to U.S. tariffs appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

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

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

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

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

Last night, the CLC Executive and key unions representing workers on the front lines of Trump’s trade war held an emergency meeting to discuss the urgent need for action.

Minister Steven MacKinnon and government officials were also in attendance.

“Canada must act decisively to protect workers and push back against these harmful policies. The U.S. needs to feel immediate consequences for targeting our economy and the livelihoods of Canadian workers.” – Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress

Labour leaders made it clear: workers should not pay the price for Trump’s reckless tariffs.

The CLC is calling for a full-scale response that includes:

• Cutting off U.S. access to critical Canadian resources—including electricity, lumber, critical minerals, oil, and gas—until the tariffs are lifted.
• Dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs to ensure the U.S. administration faces the consequences of its actions.
• Immediate support for impacted workers, including financial assistance, job protection measures, and transition programs.
• A long-term strategy to reduce Canada’s reliance on U.S. trade, diversifying markets to protect workers from future foreign policy disruptions.

To arrange an interview with Bea Bruske, please email: media@clcctc.ca.

The post CLC PRESIDENT BEA BRUSKE AVAILABLE TO SPEAK FOLLOWING TRUDEAU-TRUMP MEETING ON TRADE WAR appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Tariffs of this magnitude would devastate thousands of jobs in sectors critical to Canada’s economy — and destabilize families, communities, and industries across the country.

What:
Press conference: Standing up for workers, defending jobs and Communities, and fighting back against Trump’s threats

When:
Thursday, January 30, 9:30 a.m.

Where:
The USW office (68 Dennis St, Sault Ste. Marie, ON)
Or
via Zoom (Passcode: 927305)

Who:
Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress
Jagmeet Singh, Leader of the New Democratic Party
Marty Warren, USW National Director for Canada
Kevon Stewart, USW District 6 Director
Michael Da Prat, USW Local 2251 President
Bill Slater, USW Local 2724 President

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

The post Canadian Labour Congress, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, and United Steelworkers to address threat of U.S. tariffs on Canadian jobs appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

OTTAWA — There’s been too much emphasis on the jobs of a few politicians and not enough focus on the jobs of thousands of workers who will be impacted by Trump’s tariff threats.

It is now clear that Canadians will be heading to the polls sooner than expected. In the meantime, the attention must be on the future of workers and their communities.

The stakes could not be higher. Workers are facing a perfect storm of threats: escalating costs of living, stagnant wages, and now the looming specter of a 25% tariff on Canadian products threatened by Donald Trump.

This is a direct attack on our jobs, our industries and our communities. The damage will ripple beyond workplaces, straining families and devastating communities. This is a moment that demands an all-hands-on-deck, cross-partisan approach to stand against economic disruption and ensure stability for the working people who drive our economy. Workers should be central to this effort.

It’s time for action. Workers are watching, and they expect nothing less.

The post BEA BRUSKE: IT’S TIME TO PUT WORKERS FIRST IN THE FACE OF ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

OTTAWA – At the end of a tumultuous day on Parliament Hill, the federal government’s Fall Economic Statement failed to deliver for workers and once again overlooks the daily struggles of Canadians.

“Workers across this country are battling skyrocketing housing costs, soaring grocery bills, and wages that are not keeping up with the cost of living,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “This Fall Economic Statement falls short of workers’ needs.”

The 2024 FES takes some limited steps to address worker issues, like the proposed new refundable tax credit for personal support workers and the government’s consultations plan on regulatory changes to increase penalties for federally regulated employers committing wage theft. Although these measures could improve accountability, they fall short of ensuring comprehensive protections and fair wages for workers.

The economic document tabled in the House of Commons also failed to address critical issues affecting workers including:

• Fixing Canada’s broken Employment Insurance (EI) system, which remains inadequate as layoffs and plant closures loom amid economic uncertainty.
• Implementing fair corporate taxation, such as an excess profits tax and a wealth tax, to ensure corporations and the ultra-rich pay their fair share.
• Expanding affordable housing supply, childcare access, healthcare and income supports, which are urgently needed to ease the affordability crisis gripping Canadians.
• Committing to a bold industrial strategy that prioritizes good, unionized jobs, sustainability, and a worker-centred transition to a net-zero economy.

While the economic statement touches on the housing crisis, it prioritizes low-cost loans to the private sector and mortgage incentives for homebuyers and funding for co-op housing and incentives for secondary suites, it doesn’t address the core housing needs people across Canada are facing. It ignores the financialization of housing driving evictions and rent hikes, fails to invest in non-market housing, and offers nothing for renters, another missed opportunity to address the affordability crisis.

Instead of delivering solutions this government is focusing on misguided priorities—like privatizing public assets—while working families continue to feel the pinch. The government’s push to facilitate private, for-profit ownership of public assets, such as airports, is deeply concerning.

“Public assets belong to Canadians, not large institutional investors looking to profit at the expense of workers and communities,” added Bruske. “Taxpayer money should be used to strengthen public services, not to fund corporate takeovers.”
The looming threat of Trump’s punitive U.S. tariffs targeting Canadian exports poses a significant risk to workers, industries, and communities.

Yet the government’s Fall Economic Statement offered no concrete plans to protect workers from these economic shocks.

Workers are fed up and are standing up, demanding better from their government. This start with taking immediate action to reduce grocery bills, housing costs, and essential service fees and strengthening workers’ rights and ensuring fair negotiations by ending the misuse of back-to-work legislation.

Canada’s Workers Deserve Better
“Budget decisions are about priorities,” said Bruske. “This Fall Economic Statement reflects a government that prioritizes big business over workers’ needs.” Canada’s unions are clear: workers deserve political leadership that prioritizes affordability, fairness, and job security. Canada’s unions will continue to demand action to ensure workers are at the centre of the government’s economic decisions.

The post THE FALL ECONOMIC STATEMENT FAILS FOR WORKERS appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

OTTAWA- The government’s decision to order CUPW workers back to work is a stark reminder of this government’s continued interference in collective bargaining. The misuse of Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code undermines workers’ fundamental rights, prolongs disputes, and erodes trust at the bargaining table. 

Let me be clear: the best and most enduring agreements are negotiated—not imposed—through good-faith discussions at the table.  

For over 150 years, Canada Post workers have connected communities, serving as the backbone of our postal system and our economy. They deserve fair wages, better working conditions, and dignity in retirement.  

The invocation of Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, Part I marks the fourth instance just this year in which the government has used this extraordinary power, impacting seven distinct groups of workers whose Charter-protected rights to engage in legal work stoppages have been trampled.  

Such repeated interference not only infringes on these fundamental rights but also sets a dangerous precedent, signaling to employers that they can rely on the government to side with them instead of respecting the collective bargaining process. We demand an end to the abuse of Section 107 by the government, and clear guardrails to curtail the uses of this section at the whim of politicians.  

At the same time, it is disappointing but not surprising to see Conservative Leader, Pierre Poilievre calling for government intervention to trample workers’ rights. Despite the lofty statements he makes in support of workers and their unions, Mr. Poilievre has repeatedly shown that when the rubber hits the road, he will never stand up with workers and their right to strike. 

As we approach the next federal election, the government must consult with unions and workers about the misuse of Section 107 and commit to respecting workers’ rights. Undermining collective bargaining undermines democracy itself. 

Canada’s unions stand in solidarity with postal workers and all workers who make the difficult decision to strike in pursuit of fairness. Workers are being left behind while corporations post record profits, exacerbating the growing economic inequities in this country. Government interventions that undermine collective bargaining rights only further tip the scales against working people. 

The only path to lasting stability and fairness is mutual respect and good-faith negotiations—nothing less. We demand better for all workers across this country. 

The post Undermining Workers’ Rights: Government Must End Section 107 Misuse  appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, will lead the Council’s discussion and make an announcement about the Canadian Football League Players’ Association.

“Representatives of millions of workers will gather in Ottawa this week ready to deliver a clear message to politicians of every stripe: if you want our votes, you must respect and enhance our rights. Not with pretty words, but concrete action,” warned Bruske. “The labour movement is growing. We will be releasing new polling showing how, more and more, Canadians are behind us. People are looking to us to make it easier to join a union and harder for employers to obstruct workers from organizing.”

“Canadians understand – the best ticket to the middle class is to have a union card in your back pocket.”

CANADIAN COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CANADIAN LABOUR CONGRESS

THURSDAY APRIL 18, 2024

Shaw Centre, Gatineau Salon

55 Colonel By Drive Ottawa ON

9:30 AM:        

Press Conference with Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress and Solomon Elimimian, President of the CFL Players’ Association (Open to the media)

10:00 AM:      

Speech by Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (Open to the media)

10:45 AM – 4:30 PM

Canadian Council deliberates and hears from invited guests (Closed to the media)

The post Labour reps discuss election strategy and union momentum appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“Powerful corporations do better than ever while families are forced to pay for the affordability crisis. The upcoming budget is an opportunity to deliver much-needed help and address these inequities,” explained Bruske. “We must invest in non-profit rental and social housing, to make homes affordable for every family. And the budget can take additional steps to make life more affordable, including cracking down on corporate price gouging and junk fees in banking.”

Bruske warned that Budget 2024 must also better support workers, including fixing Employment Insurance, improving pensions, and delivering better skills training.  

“As the unemployment rate continues to rise, we must make sure help is there for people when they need it most. After years of broken promises, the government must finally fix EI,” warned Bruske. “We must also prepare today’s workers for the low-carbon jobs of the future. This means investing in good sustainable union jobs, alongside better skills training and upskilling.”

Bruske added that if corporations are made to pay their fair share, government can afford to invest in help for people who are struggling.

“We can afford to improve the care economy, implement universal pharmacare, and invest in people. But only if we make the most profitable corporations pay their fair share,” concluded Bruske. “Budget 2024 is an opportunity to fight back against a vision of Canada where wealthy corporations get more tax giveaways, and deeper government spending cuts mean even less help for people who need it most.”

What:              Comment on workers’ expectations for Budget 2024

When:             By arrangement

Who:               Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress

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To arrange an interview, please contact:

CLC Media Relations

media@clcctc.ca / 613-526-7426

The post BUDGET 2024 MUST INVEST IN AFFORDABILITY, REJECT AUSTERITY appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

OTTAWA––Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, will be available to react to the Fall Economic Statement.

“Workers and families already bear too much of the burden for these tough economic times. As wages keep falling behind, families struggle to make rent, pay for groceries, or afford medicine when their child gets sick,” said Bruske. “Working people are looking to the government to invest in creating affordable housing, delivering publicly funded, publicly delivered pharmacare, fixing Employment Insurance and creating sustainable jobs while fighting climate change.”

Bruske added that not everyone has suffered, pointing out that oil corporations and others have seen record profits while their employees kept falling behind.

“Real fiscal responsibility starts with the government making profitable corporations pay their fair share,” added Bruske. “That’s a balanced approach that protects the programs and services people rely on. You can’t cut your way to prosperity.”  

What:              Comment on how the Fall Economic Statement affects workers and families

When:             By arrangement

Who:               Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress

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

The post Fiscal Update Must Put Workers and Families First appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“Workers and their families are looking to Canada’s premiers for concrete solutions to fix health care, action on the affordability crisis and a strong commitment to work with the labour movement to make sure good, sustainable, union jobs are at the heart of our industrial strategy,” said Bruske. “People are struggling. Canada’s health crisis continues while family budgets are stretched to the breaking point.”

Bruske added that people are frustrated that five months after the new health care funding agreement between the prime minister and the premiers, Canadians are still waiting for the promised bilateral deals.

“Patients face long wait times, hospitals struggle to keep Emergency Rooms open while health care workers across the country face another summer of extreme staff shortages, unsustainable hours and unacceptable working conditions,” warned Bruske. “Canada’s Premiers must listen to frontline workers and work with health care unions on measures to improve working conditions, better retain and recruit nurses and ensure the long-term viability of Canada’s cherished public health care system.”

On the climate crisis and the energy – employment transition, Bruske says workers want our politicians to be leaders not laggards.

“Now is the time to act to make sure Canadian workers aren’t left behind as the world transitions to a low-carbon economy,” exclaimed Bruske. “Let’s work together to future-proof our industrial strategy, in every province and every region of our country.”

What:            Comment on workers priorities for Council of the Federation meetings.

Who:             Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress

Where:         By arrangement via phone or zoom.

When:           July 7 – 12, 2023

–30–

To arrange an interview please contact:

CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca
613-355-1962

The post Workers Looking for Premiers to Act on Health Care, Affordability and Sustainable Jobs appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Canada’s unions are calling for a workers’ budget, that prioritizes real and strategic investments in publicly funded, publicly delivered services like health care, and measures to permanently strengthen our EI system. 

Workers and their families are falling behind, and our inadequate social safety net is failing them. Workers expect the government to throw them a lifeline. 

What:          CLC President available to talk about Budget 2023 

Where:       In person, by phone or by ZOOM 

When:        March 28, 2023, and/or in advance of the budget, by arrangement 

Who:           Bea Bruske, President of the CLC  

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Contact information: 

CLC Media Relations 
media@clcctc.ca 
613-526-7426  

The post CLC President Bea Bruske available to react to budget appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“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.

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

The post Statement from Larry Rousseau: Meaningful investments and a seat at the table for workers essential for decarbonization appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

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

The post Canadian Labour Congress President Bea Bruske available to speak on fall economic update 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.

The post Equal pay for work of equal value: it’s long past the time for employers and governments to get it right on pay equity appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“The pandemic and its devastating effects aren’t behind us yet, but workers in Canada have an opportunity to help shape the future we want,” said Bea Bruske, President of the CLC. “More and more workers are pushing back and demanding better: better wages, better benefits and better working conditions. This is our moment to seize, to shape the world of work we want.”

Workers across the country will gather at local Labour Day events in their communities, after two years of virtual events. Canada’s unions are happy to be hosting in-person and hybrid events, to celebrate workers’ contributions in weathering the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We owe a great debt to the frontline workers who kept us safe, healthy, fed and supported over the past two and a half years. Governments and employers must recognize that there is no recovery without workers. In a time when inflation is rising at a breakneck pace, and the cost of living is becoming unlivable, decision-makers must take concrete action to ensure workers aren’t left behind. We should want to see workers in this country thrive, instead of watching them struggle to survive,” said Bruske.

Bruske will join workers and community leaders in Toronto for the annual Labour Day parade. This will mark the 150^th anniversary of labour taking to the streets in Toronto to mark Labour Day.

What:              Parade

Where:            Parade begins at Queen St. W. at University Ave.

When:             Monday, September 5, 2022 at 9:30 am ET

Who:               CLC President, Bea Bruske

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To arrange an interview on or before Labour Day, contact:
Chantal St-Denis
cstdenis@clcctc.ca
613-355-1962                                                                                     

The post Labour Day: Worker power is key to a stronger middle class appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“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.

-30-

To arrange an interview, please contact:
CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca
613-355-1962

The post Canada’s unions to engage Premiers at the Council of the Federation on strengthening public health care appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

OTTAWA –– Canada’s unions welcomed progress in today’s Budget Implementation Act on a number of vital issues the labour movement has long pushed for but were disappointed with new delays and restrictions implementing the new paid sick leave policy for all federally regulated workers.

“We are happy the government listened and took action on critical issues Canada’s labour movement has long fought for. A labour mobility tax deduction to support tradespeople, allowing unions to independently file trade remedy complaints, and amending the Competition Act to outlaw wage collusion by employers are welcome steps that will benefit workers,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “We are also pleased the government is implementing a Luxury Items Tax, another step towards making sure everyone pays their fair share.”

Bruske said that the government’s budget bill, C-19, also included important progress on training and Employment Insurance, and encouraged MPs to work together to pass the bill.

“While there is more work to do on permanently reforming EI, today’s progress on establishing a new EI Board of Appeal is something we have long fought for,” said Bruske. “And the government’s commitment to work with unions to create better employment supports and training opportunities is good news for Canada’s workers.”

Bruske added that Canada’s unions were concerned about workers being excluded from the implementation of the new paid sick leave rules, which will now only initially apply to federally regulated companies with over 100 employees.

“There are thousands of workers in small- and medium-sized businesses who are being told they have to wait longer for this critical policy, including people in the trucking industry and other frontline workers who would particularly benefit,” concluded Bruske. “We will keep up the pressure on the government and MPs to work with us to fix this and make sure these workers get the 10 days of paid sick leave they were promised, as soon as possible.”

-30-

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

The post Workers welcome wins in budget bill appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“The switch from automatic certification to mandatory voting has coincided with the decline in unionization rates. This is no accident,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “We need to see more government action to empower workers. Having a union and a clear collective agreement provides stability and predictability for workers that benefits them and our economy.”

Since the early 1990s governments across Canada have prohibited labour board from automatic certification, even in cases where 100 percent of the bargaining unit demonstrated support by signing union cards.

“Demonstrating support for a union with signed membership cards is democratic. If you have majority support, you should not have to duplicate the process and give the employer time to pressure workers,” said Bruske. “Research across Canada and the United States shows that adding an unnecessary second step – a formal vote to confirm the support employees have already demonstrated by signing their cards – is nothing but an opportunity for employers to interfere.”

Employers can and routinely do pressure workers not to join a union. They may threaten to close the business, initiate layoffs, withhold promotion and training opportunities or take other steps. The fines are low and the benefits of breaking the law to defeat the union, in their view, outweigh the costs.

The right to form an independent association for the purposes of collective bargaining is protected under s. 2(d) freedom of association guarantee under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Government of Canada has adopted multiple International Labour Organization conventions supporting the right to unionize and engage in collective bargaining.

Employee voice in the workplace is a fundamental pillar of workplace democracy. Providing workers with a collective voice at work improves workplace health and safety, strengthens employee morale and reduces employee turnover (since exit is no longer the sole option for dealing with dissatisfactory working conditions).

The Government of Canada recognized this in 2016 when it restored automatic certification federally and reversed the Harper government’s Bill C-525, which withdrew automatic certification as an option in the federal private sector without any study, dialogue or debate.

The post BC government move to card check certification a win for workers appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Bruske is available to outline how Canada’s unions are looking to the Budget to take concrete steps to strengthen public health care and make life more affordable.

“The reality is, not everyone is sharing in the recovery. Many are still facing enormous precarity, anxiety, and an uncertain job market. It is critical that the government use Budget 2022 to launch our country on a path to economic recovery that doesn’t leave workers and their families behind,” said Bruske.

Canada’s unions are demanding MPs come together behind helping families and avoiding the extreme rhetoric that has too often become the norm on Parliament Hill.

“While Conservatives continue to use toxic partisanship to try and block progress in the House of Commons, we are urging MPs to work together and deliver help to Canadians. Give struggling families a break and bolster our public health care system, including through investments in pharmacare, dentalcare and action to address the health workforce crisis,” Bruske added.

What:              CLC President available to talk about Budget 2022

Where:            By phone or by ZOOM

When:             April 7, 2022 and/or in advance of the budget, by arrangement

Who:               Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress

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Contact information:

CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca
613-355-1962

The post Canadian Labour Congress’ President Bea Bruske available to react to Budget 2022 appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“When you sift below the headlines and talk to people about the labour market, you see a different story about Canada’s economic recovery. There has been an uneven rebound and workers, particularly in lower wage industries, simply haven’t seen the return to ‘normal’ that others have,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). “So many Canadians are still living with enormous precarity, anxiety, and lack of predictability about the job market.”

What:      CLC President available to react to Labour Force Data

Where:    By phone or by ZOOM

When:     March 11, 2022

Who:       Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress

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Contact information:
CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca
613-355-1962

The post Canadian Labour Congress’ President Bea Bruske available to react to labour force data appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, is available to speak to the media about the upcoming return of Parliament and what a workers-centred recovery looks like.

“The pandemic laid bare existing inequities and the reality is many workers and families are still struggling. Parliament must act quickly to help people now being left behind after the cancellation of emergency help last month,” said Bruske. “Canada’s unions are committed to working with the government and all parties in Parliament on behalf of Canada’s workers and their families.”

“We need concrete action to help take the strain off family budgets with investments in making housing affordable; implementation of pharmacare – to make medicine affordable for everyone; child care deals with every province and territory, so parents now pushed to the economic sidelines have a path back to the labour force; and a permanent fix to our broken EI system, so our social safety net is there for the next crisis, whether health or climate related,” concluded Bruske.

Learn more about how Canada’s unions are helping to shape the recovery at canadianplan.ca.

When: Interviews can be arranged between November 19 and November 22

What: President Bea Bruske available for comment on Canada’s unions’ priorities for return of Parliament

Where: Virtual or in-person, by arrangement

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

The post President Bea Bruske available to speak about Canada’s unions’ priorities for new Parliament appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

EI applications have risen while the Delta variant continues to affect hotspots across the country and supply chains continue to be disrupted. This means it is crucial for the government to immediately extend emergency supports past Saturday’s deadline.

“I had the opportunity earlier this week to relay our concerns directly to Deputy Prime Minister and finance minister Chrystia Freeland. I explained how it is vital the government continues to have the backs of workers in these challenging times,” said Bruske.

“The COVID-19 pandemic laid-bare the existing inequality in Canada and we must not forget that now. We urge Parliament to reconvene as soon as possible and act to make sure the recovery is focused on alleviating inequality and providing decent work for all,” said Bruske.

Learn more at canadianplan.ca.

What: CLC President available to speak about emergency benefits
Where: By phone or by ZOOM
When: October 21, 2021
Who: Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress

Contact information:
Amy Boughner
Cell: 343-549-8397
media@clcctc.ca

The post Canadian Labour Congress’ President Bea Bruske available to speak about emergency benefits appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Sales and service workers have seen wages rise only 59 cents on average – less than price a bag of potatoes has gone up – since the pandemic struck. There are still nearly 300,000 more unemployed than in February 2020 and another million are employed but working fewer than half their usual hours.

“Under the last Conservative government, precarious work swelled while job quality decreased,” said Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress. “Government has a role to play in making sure new jobs are decent ones, but that won’t happen under Mr. O’Toole’s policies, which appear to be written for him by large corporations.”

Bruske pointed out that inequalities laid bare by the pandemic are now reasserting themselves, as low-paid workers in precarious work struggle to boost hours and keep up with rising prices. 1 in 5 workers in Canada ­– 1 in 4 women workers – are officially low-paid, one of the highest proportions in the OECD.

“As working families struggle, Mr. O’Toole offers kind words but hostile policies that would mean lower wages, fewer benefits, and more precarious work,” said Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress. “Mr. O’Toole’s plan fails to address the real economic challenges facing families. He is just another Conservative who will help companies keep wages low while denying workers the help they need.”

Bruske said that a real workers’ agenda would include raising the minimum wage; fair scheduling laws; increasing EI and paid sick leave; opening employment standards to gig economy workers; outlawing pay discrimination against part-time employees; and strengthening workers’ voices by providing a path to unionization.

Contact information:
Chantal St-Denis
Cell 613-355-1962
media@clcctc.ca

The post Conservative O’Toole would mean low-wage recovery that leaves workers behind appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“Our biggest concern is those workers who are at risk of dropping out of the labour market altogether. “Many workers are just giving up because they can’t find work, or because a lack of access to services, like childcare, makes working impossible,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “The Liberal government has made big promises about creating jobs and investing in childcare, but we won’t start to see real economic recovery until those investments come to fruition.”

June’s labour force survey, released today by Statistics Canada, showed an increase in low-wage part-time work, in sectors that have high levels of precarity. Long-term unemployment remains a concern – almost half a million Canadians have been without work for six months or longer.

The federal government has made commitments towards the creation of one million jobs and investments in skills and training. Workers who are waiting for those investments are now seeing reductions in the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) of $200 per week. Additionally, furloughed workers whose salaries are being subsidized under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) will lose all compensation as of August 28.

“This pandemic is not over, we still have a ways to go before businesses and workplaces fully reopen,” said Bruske. “As we inch towards pre-pandemic levels of employment, we have to remind the Prime Minister that there can be no going back. We have to do better than pre-pandemic employment levels and move forward to full employment, so every worker who wants a job can find one.”

Canada’s unions are focused on replacing jobs lost during the pandemic with better ones. This means working with the government on their promise to create one million jobs, and ensuring those jobs pay a living wage and include access to benefits like paid sick leave and easier paths to unionization.

Learn more about new CLC President Bea Bruske here.

The post Job numbers show pandemic’s hardest hit continue to struggle most appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) is Canada’s major umbrella organization of national unions, provincial federations of labour and local labour councils and represents over three million workers.

Bea Bruske from United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) was elected as the CLC’s President. She replaces retiring President Hassan Yussuff who has held the position for two terms spanning the past seven years. Bruske, who received overwhelming support from convention delegates, was previously Secretary Treasurer and a negotiator with UFCW 832 and a Vice-President of the UFCW Canada National Council.

“I am honored to be elected as CLC’s new President and I’m looking forward to working with a dedicated team committed to advancing the interests of the nation’s workers and their families,” said Bruske. “We are committed to building a Canada that works for everyone. Among our key priorities will be to ensure workers are centered in the post-pandemic recovery.”

Lily Chang was elected to replace outgoing Secretary-Treasurer Marie Clarke Walker. Chang was previously Treasurer of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) local 79.

Returning Executive Vice-President Larry Rousseau was re-elected for a second term. Rousseau was first elected to the position at the 2017 CLC Convention in Toronto.

Newly elected Executive Vice-President Siobhán Vipond replaces outgoing Executive Vice-President Donald Lafleur. Vipond was the Secretary-Treasurer of the Alberta Federation of Labour.

Nearly 4,000 delegates from across Canada participated in the CLC’s first ever virtual convention and debated issues including pharmacare, the creation of good jobs and how to ensure a strong COVID-19 pandemic recovery plan that addresses racial and gender inequities. They also passed resolutions on combating Islamophobia and Anti-Asian racism, as well as a resolution calling for the federal government fulfill the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Delegates to the Convention also elected labour council and equity representatives who will lead for the coming mandate. These positions include representation for LGBTQ2SI, young workers, workers of colour, Indigenous workers and disability rights, as well as regional representatives across Canada.

New Officers and council members were sworn in late Friday just prior to the Convention’s close.

The post Canada’s unions elect new leaders to help chart a hopeful post-pandemic future for workers appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Canada’s unions have been calling for targeted federal investments to help workers and their families get through the pandemic and to ensure a swift economic rebound and recovery.

Hassan Yussuff, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, will be available to comment once the update is released.

To arrange an interview, please contact:

CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca
613-526-7426
cell: 613-355-1962

The post Canada’s unions to respond to federal government’s fiscal update appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

The pandemic exposed deep disparities and vulnerabilities in our economy and society. It has also radically changed the lives of people across Canada.

Workers want the federal government to disaster-proof the economy by committing to investments in job creation, pharmacare and child care, among others.

CLC President Hassan Yussuff is available to comment on the Action Week priorities and to discuss the importance of hosting such a large-scale virtual lobbying event, even in the midst of the current crisis.

To arrange an interview, please contact:

CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca
Office: 613-526-7426
Cell: 613-355-1962

The post Canada’s unions hosting virtual Action Week appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“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, Hassan Yussuff. “Passing those saving on to help struggling families weather this storm is the right thing to do.”

The CLC is calling on all financial institutions to reducing interest rates on all purchases made after March 15th, and all balances carried forward from prior to that date, for the duration of the COVID-19 health crisis.

“This is a defining moment in our country’s history, and I am urging CEOs to step up and take action to support the common good,” said Yussuff.

The CLC is collecting signatures to put more pressure on the banks and credit card companies to respond to this call, you can sign on here.

A letter has also been sent from CLC to the CEOs of financial institutions asking them to take steps to reduce the debt families are facing.

The post Credit card relief now appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

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 medications they need to get through COVID-19 closures.

At the same time, in the days and weeks ahead, thousands of Canadians may be told their place of employment is shutting down and they no longer have an income. This financial aid package will help deliver money directly to the workers who need it most.

“The only way out of this crisis is through solidarity and support for each other, it’s what we do best,” said Hassan Yussuff, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “We look forward to working with the government in the coming days and weeks to ensure no one gets left behind.”

Canada’s unions have called for direct income supports for those not eligible for Employment Insurance (EI), like the Emergency Support Benefit and Emergency Care Benefit announced today.

The Prime Minister has indicated that these actions are part of the first phase of government intervention that will be needed to ensure Canadians get the support they need throughout this crisis.

“We are very glad to hear both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance say that our government is prepared to do more,” continued Yussuff. “This signals that they are ready to be more ambitious, and we believe they will have to be very soon, to continue to adequately respond to this crisis.”

It is good to see Canada’s banks announcing steps to allow flexibility for mortgage payments, which will be a huge relief for many families, and Canada’s unions are calling for flexibility across the board for rent, utilities and bill payments.

You can learn more about direct actions the CLC has asked the government and employers to consider here.

To arrange an interview, please contact:

CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca
613-526-7426

The post Canada’s unions welcome government aid for workers appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

The post CLC Convention Postponed appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Income support will be critical to minimizing the economic impact of COVID-19.

In addition, the Canadian Labour Congress is calling on all governments and employers to take every step necessary to protect the health and well-being of workers, including health care workers who are on the frontlines of this public health emergency. These measures include:

1. Permitting flexible work arrangements, telecommuting, video and teleconferencing, ending non-essential travel, and postponing unnecessary meetings and events.
2. Providing paid sick leave under short-term disability and sick leave plans while maintaining drug coverage.
3. Providing 14 days paid sick leave for workers under prevailing federal, provincial and territorial labour standards to cover the quarantine period. 
4. Waiving any requirement for a doctor’s note to permit sick leave.
5. Prohibiting coronavirus testing as a condition of continued employment.
6. Working with Service Canada to take full advantage of the improved EI Work-Sharing Program to minimize layoffs.
7. Working closely with health and safety committees and unions to provide accurate and timely information to employees about accessing benefits and support.
8. Providing compassionate care and bereavement leave support to employees, as well as mental health counselling and support.
   

   Specific to health care workers, employers should, among other things:

    

9.  Provide an adequate supply of appropriate N95 respirators on hand as well as PAPR (for aerosol-generating procedures, e.g. intubation) and other personal protective equipment.
10. Conduct a risk assessment to determine all points of potential entry (and how to restrict them) and other points of potential exposure for workers (e.g. screening, triage, isolation rooms).

The post Supporting workers in a time of crisis: Key steps for governments and employers appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“We continue to share our recommendations with the federal government as this situation progresses. While there has been an important move in easing measures around Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, the government will need to go much further to protect the most vulnerable,” said Hassan Yussuff, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC).

After decades of cuts, Canada’s unemployment safety net is wholly inadequate and paid sick leave policies across the country are insufficient.

In 2018, only 33 per cent of unemployed women and 38 per cent of unemployed men received EI benefits. Seasonal workers, those with precarious employment and the self-employed are most vulnerable and will require urgent support.

“While we acknowledge the important measures all levels of governments are taking to ease the burden on the business community to help save jobs in the private sector, more must be done to assist front-line workers in health care fields who are vital in the fight against COVID-19,” said Yussuff.

Further, CLC urges the federal government to:

• Reduce the entry requirement for EI regular and sickness benefits;
• Immediately increase the current benefit rate from 55 per cent to 60 per cent;
• Establish an emergency benefit with a low minimum contribution requirement to support otherwise ineligible workers;
• Implement regulations to waive the requirement that claimants obtain a doctor’s note if they require quarantine;
• Make additional government funds available to provide special income relief for health sector workers who may be subject to quarantine or who become sick;
• Instruct utilities, banks, landlords, credit card companies and financial institutions to extend and relax mortgage, rent and bill payment requirements, loan servicing obligations, and other responsibilities facing consumers and households;
• Work with First Ministers to declare that no one be fired for self-quarantining or recovering from infection, and that if a worker loses their job for these reasons, they will be reinstated;
• Double the GST/HST credit to provide income support to low-income Canadians; and
• Increase the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) paid to low- and modest-income families.

“Single and vulnerable parents living paycheck to paycheck are going to struggle to pay rent and utilities if they have to scale back hours and turn down shifts to deal with the child care crisis. We know that these measures will disproportionately affect women.

“All across Canada, working people have been listening to public health authorities and doing their part to slow the spread of COVID-19—it is now time for Canada to support them.”

Read more: Supporting workers in a time of crisis — Key steps for governments and employers.

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“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, and the workers who support it, are set to face an unprecedented test. These challenges must be met with teamwork and coordination among Canadian workers and their families, businesses and governments. We were pleased to have the opportunity to discuss the challenges facing business and labour with Prime Minister Trudeau and look forward to hearing about the government’s response.

“The Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the CLC will be united in our efforts to ensure that every sector of the economy receives all necessary stabilizing support. Furthermore, we will develop complimentary policy options to help governments implement timely and meaningful programs to support Canadians through this period.

“At every turn, we will be looking to work collaboratively and assist all levels of government to ensure response programs reach those who need support in a timely and effective manner.”

About the Canadian Chamber of Commerce – Because Business Matters

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce helps build the businesses that support our families, our communities and our country. We do this by influencing government policy, by providing essential business services and by connecting businesses to information they can use, to opportunities for growth and to a network of local chambers, businesses, decision-makers and peers from across the country, in every sector of the economy and at all levels of government, as well as internationally. We are unapologetic in our support for business and the vital role it plays in building and sustaining our great nation.

About the Canadian Labour Congress

The CLC 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.

For more information, please contact:

Phil Taylor
ptavlor@chamber.ca

CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca
613-526-7426

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“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 option,” said Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) President Hassan Yussuff. “No one should be fired for self-quarantining or recovering from infection. We need to make sure the needs of all workers are moved to the top of the priority list as we position ourselves to respond to this evolving threat.”

While the Prime Minister acted quickly to form a cabinet committee to respond to the spread of the virus, Canada’s unions are calling on the Minister of Labour to be included in this response unit.

The CLC is also asking the federal government to consider a host of measures, including:

• Additional paid days leave for all sick or self-isolated federally regulated workers, which includes the transportation sector, and encourage the provinces to follow suit.
• That the CLC calls on the federal government and First Ministers meeting this week to declare that no one must be fired for self-quarantining or recovering from infection, and any worker losing their job for these reasons will be reinstated.
• Implement a sharp reduction in Employment Insurance (EI) qualifying hours. The hours threshold prevents a significant proportion of low-income, non-standard workers from qualifying for EI benefits.
• Implement temporary regulations that waive any requirement that claimants obtain a medical certificate if their employer, a public authority or a health care professional recommends or requires their quarantine. A simple declaration or attestation of the claimant could be required in place of a medical certificate.
• Make available additional government funds through the EI program to provide special income relief for vulnerable workers and health sector workers who do not qualify for EI, but who may be subject to quarantine or became sick with COVID-19.

“If we’re going to ask anyone with COVID-19 symptoms to self-quarantine for 14 days, Canadians need to know the government has their backs,” added Yussuff. “We’re confident that our recommendations coupled with a commitment that no one will be fired for self-quarantining, will help limit the spread of this virus.”

CLC letter to the Prime Minister found here.

For more information:
CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca 
613-526-7426

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Canada’s unions have been campaigning for universal public pharmacare that would cover all Canadians, regardless of their age, income, or where they work or live. Recent polls show that 89% of Canadians consistently say they support universal public pharmacare. Canada remains the only country with a national Medicare program that doesn’t provide national coverage for pharmacare.

What: Media availability
When: Wednesday, June 12, 2019
Who: Hassan Yussuff, CLC President

For more information and to arrange an interview, please contact:

Chantal St-Denis
CLC Communications
613-355-1962
Email: cstdenis@clcctc.ca

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