Publications

ETUC and CLC statement on CETA: More democracy for a fair and progressive trade agenda

The failure of the signature of CETA and the consequent postponement of the EU-Canada Summit show that our concerns were right and are shared by local and national politicians. The deal cannot be ratified unless the flaws in CETA are fully addressed.  This is the result of a negotiation process that was conducted in secrecy.  We believe that this situation…

Prime Minister Trudeau tells young union activists he’ll keep his election promises

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged to keep his election promises amid tough questions from more than 400 delegates at the Canadian Labour Congress’ Young Workers Summit in Ottawa today. The questions ranged from trade to pipelines and the environment, from the Phoenix payroll system and public sector bargaining to the need for accessible child care and good quality, secure jobs…

CLC calls on government to fulfill electoral reform promise

Today, CLC President Hassan Yussuff joined with partners in the Every Voter Counts Alliance to call on the government to fulfill its promise on electoral reform and institute a made in Canada version of proportional representation. “This is an opportunity to uphold the democratic principle of making every vote count.  The only way to do that is through proportional representation,” said Yussuff. Throughout the…

CETA’s failure is a win for democracy

The Canadian Labour Congress says that the European Union and Canada failed to reach a deal on CETA because negotiators failed to take the concerns of unions and civil society seriously. “These talks failed because governments on both sides of the Atlantic chose not to seriously address the concerns we put on the table when the text first became public…

Celebrities help Canadian unions celebrate human rights victories

On Thursday evening, Canada’s unions will launch Rise Up!, a national human rights conference, with an opening night celebration featuring a DJ set by A Tribe Called Red, celebrity guest speakers including Daily Show Senior Correspondent Hasan Minhaj, author and MLA for Fort Rouge Wab Kinew, and Dr. Dawn Lavell-Harvard, vice-president of the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC). “This is…

Government repeals anti-union legislation

On Wednesday, Parliament voted to adopt Bill C-4, a government bill that repeals the previous Conservative government’s controversial anti-union bills C-377 and C-525. Earlier this year, Labour Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk made good on the Liberals’ election promise to repeal the bills. “We are pleased that the government has done the right thing and overturned bills C-377 and C-525 and we…

Let’s make decent work a reality for all Canadians

Let’s face it: low-wage, insecure, part-time work is no way to live life now, or build a future. But today, too many Canadians – especially younger Canadians – are having to do just that. October 7th, the international Day for Decent Work, is an opportunity for all workers to reflect on our current situation and call for better jobs. Here…

It’s long past time to act on pay equity

Canada’s unions are appalled with the federal government’s decision to wait another two years to start addressing the gender wage gap. “Despite the report of the House of Commons Special Committee on Pay Equity being titled It’s Time to Act, action on this issue doesn’t seem to be high on their agenda,” said CLC Secretary-Treasurer Barbara Byers. “The government says…

CLC applauds carbon pricing targets but calls for a just and fair transition for workers

The CLC welcomes the federal government’s announcement of an ambitious initiative to tackle climate change through proposed carbon pricing. As a next step, the CLC calls for a federal strategy to guarantee new opportunities for workers and communities impacted by the transition to a low-carbon economy. “Today’s carbon pricing announcement is an important and necessary step for our government to…

Federal asbestos inventory a good first step

The CLC is commending the federal government for today’s launch of an online inventory of Canadian government buildings containing asbestos. Canadian unions have been calling for this type of registry for over a decade. “It’s a great first step towards a comprehensive ban. Provinces and municipalities should follow the federal government’s lead and include their own public buildings in the…