Publications

Working While Black Webinar Series

On February 13, 2017 in honour of Black History Month, the Canadian Labour Congress is launching “Working While Black”, an educational and interactive webinar series for workers of colour and allies. The series will celebrate the contributions of Black activists and organizers in Canada, strengthen solidarity across movements, and build skills and knowledge for confronting anti-Black racism in workplaces and…

#WhyWeMarch

By Barb Byers and Marie Clarke Walker On Saturday, January 21, 2017, people of all genders, ages, races, abilities, backgrounds, and orientations will take part in the Women’s March on Washington and solidarity marches in more than 380 cities around the world. Barb will be marching in Vancouver, Marie will be in Toronto, and we wanted to tell you more…

Barbara Byers appointed to UN Women advisory group

The Canadian Labour Congress is congratulating Secretary-Treasurer Barbara Byers on her appointment to the UN Women Executive Director’s Civil Society Advisory Group (CSAG) last month. UN Women’s mandate focuses on five key priorities: increasing women’s leadership and participation, ending violence against women, engaging women in all aspects of peace and security processes, enhancing women’s economic empowerment and making gender equality…

Canada’s unions celebrate federal asbestos ban

The Canadian Labour Congress is celebrating today’s announcement that the federal government is banning the manufacture, import, export and use of asbestos. “We can all breathe easier,” said CLC president Hassan Yussuff. “This is good public health policy that will, without question, save lives for generations to come.” “Canada’s unions, along with survivors and health advocates, have been working hard…

Canada’s unions release migrant worker video to mark Human Rights Day

To mark Human Rights Day, Canada’s unions released a new video to raise awareness of the human rights issues faced by migrant workers in our country. The video tells the story of an agricultural worker who must leave her home and family behind to work long hours in isolated and dangerous conditions – a situation faced by many migrants entering…

Racism and division aren’t Canadian values

Dear Ms. Leitch, As the President of the Canadian Labour Congress – representing over three million working women and men from every background – I am writing to you with a clear message: racism and division are the most anti-Canadian values of all. Your proposal to screen new immigrants based on so-called “Canadian values” at best pretends to appeal to…

Facing domestic violence shouldn’t mean losing your job

To mark December 6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, Canada’s unions are calling on the federal, provincial and territorial governments to follow Manitoba’s lead by ensuring paid employment leave for victims of domestic violence. In March, the Province of Manitoba enacted Bill 8, which amended their employment standards to afford workers who are victims…

Ready for Canada’s “Clean Growth Century”

With Canada’s 150th birthday fast approaching, the Canadian Labour Congress is joining with business, faith, community and environmental groups to articulate a vision for a “Clean Growth Century” for our country. In an op-ed published today in La Presse and Policy Options, the coalition urged policymakers to pursue a better approach to climate change, including investments in clean electricity, public…

Canada needs to lead on disability rights

Ten years ago the United Nations adopted a resolution that established the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The Convention’s main message is that people with disabilities are entitled to full human rights and freedoms without discrimination. Unions were some of the earliest advocates for disability rights in the workplace, and embraced the CRPD for promoting the…

Support proportional representation? Your guide to the mydemocracy.ca survey

Voters across Canada are getting a controversial postcard in the mail about an online survey on electoral reform. The controversy? It has been widely criticized for being misleading, vague, ineffective, and designed to undermine majority Canadian support for proportional representation. It doesn’t even ask Canadians which system they want! If you, like most Canadians, support proportional representation, here’s what you…