Publications

Like Biden, Trudeau should put good union jobs on the agenda

By Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress as published in The Hill Times Behind the smiles and handshakes when a U.S. president visits Canada are long hours of painstaking negotiations. Officials plan the trip to the minute and fight it out over every item on the agenda. An agenda that will no doubt include U.S. protectionism and ‘Buy…

A Workers’ Budget: Labour demands for Budget 2023

Bruske: 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.  OTTAWA – Canada’s unions are calling on the federal government to invest in workers in its budget to be released on March 28.  “High inflation is eating away at workers’ hard-earned pay cheques, the…

CLC: Justice is long overdue for Black workers

The impacts of anti-Black racism are far reaching and have caused significant barriers to economic advancement and empowerment, as well as ongoing labour market discrimination. This has resulted in Black workers earning lower wages and facing obstacles in all aspects of work; from the initial hiring process, to advancement and promotion and retention. “Anti-Black racism and discrimination are deeply embedded…

Enough is enough: It’s time to put workers and pensioners before big banks and CEOs.

By Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress as published in The Hill Times No matter who we are, most of us want financial security for ourselves and our families when we retire. We give our all and spend decades dedicating our time and energy to our employers. When we retire, we depend on our hard-earned pensions to provide…

Canada’s unions: Urgent action required to rein in corporate greed

Bruske: Wealthy grocery CEOs must be held to account for Canadians’ skyrocketing grocery bills OTTAWA –– Yesterday, Loblaw CEO Galen Weston Jr., Empire CEO Michael Medline and Metro CEO Eric La Flèche testified before the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food about sky-high food prices. Canada’s unions are now urging the federal government to crack down on corporate greed and…

To union feminists, this International Women’s Day, I salute you

My friends, You have led the charge, for decades, to improve women’s rights and gender equality at work. Years of tireless advocacy, over generations, has tipped the scales through every lobby, campaign, conversation and rally to get that much closer to achieving the feminist and equitable world those who stood before us dreamed of. Now, don’t get me wrong, because…

Union women: Stronger than ever

Union women across Canada are marking International Women’s Day by celebrating our collective victories and preparing for the coming challenges in the ongoing fight for women’s rights and gender equity. Canada’s unions are lifting up women’s voices, highlighting examples of how women have organised to win, and pledging to continue to be a driving force for progress in workplaces and in…

CLC President Bea Bruske responds to labour force data

Bruske: Canada’s unions pleased to see buoyancy in job market, but wages continue to lag behind inflation OTTAWA––Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, made the following statement in response to the labour force data released by Statistics Canada today.  “Today’s labour force numbers indicate that the job growth we saw plateau in 2022 has once again picked up.…

Federal-provincial health care deal: Canada’s unions cautiously optimistic

Bruske: Health care deal is a step in the right direction — Now governments must deliver OTTAWA — Canada’s unions welcome the federal government’s pledge to increase health funding to provinces and territories. New money being added will help address some of the challenges but with no strings attached, this deal will only scratch the surface of the problems our…

Workers mobilize to Parliament Hill urging action on polycrisis

Bruske : Hundreds of workers will meet with MPs to call for urgent action on the biggest challenges facing Canadian workers and their families OTTAWA–– Hundreds of workers and labour leaders from across Canada are mobilizing to Parliament Hill today to sound the alarm about the mounting issues facing workers. “Workers are being hit over and over again. Rising costs…