OTTAWA – Hundreds of union activists are meeting with Members of Parliament and Senators today to discuss issues they want to see addressed in this Parliament’s first budget — with national pharmacare as their top priority. “We know that universal, public pharmacare will be less expensive and keep more people healthy and out of the hospital,” said Hassan Yussuff, President…

By Hassan Yussuff, as published in The Hill Times. In the next few weeks the Minister of Finance will rise in the house and give a speech laying out the government’s budget priorities for the next year. National pharmacare must be at the top of that list. The three parties who promised pharmacare won a majority of the vote in…

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OTTAWA – After a 60-day lockout of refinery workers in Regina that has included picket lines and arrests, Canada’s unions are calling for this lockout to end. The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) reaffirmed their commitment and solidarity with Unifor Local 594 workers who are ready to bargain a fair deal. “The union has demonstrated…

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

Hassan Yussuff, President of the Canadian Labour Congress issued the following statement: “Canada’s unions stand with the Muslim community today as we mark three years since the deadly attack on a Quebec City mosque. Our hearts are with the community of Quebec City’s Islamic Cultural Centre, and across Canada and to the friends and families of the six men killed…

OTTAWA – As Parliament prepares to resume, a coalition of pharmacare advocates gathered in Ottawa to strategize the next steps to ensure the successful delivery of universal pharmacare. With polls showing over 90 per cent of Canadians in support of a national pharmacare program, and the Hoskins Report providing a clear path to implementation, 2020 is set to deliver big…

OTTAWA – Amid escalating tensions on the picket lines in Regina, including recent arrests, Canada’s unions are joining the growing chorus of support coming in from across the country. The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) reaffirm their commitment to stand in solidarity with the workers. “Canada’s unions know the sacrifice it takes for workers to…

The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) is proud to be working with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to implement a temporary initiative that will help 500 out-of-status construction workers find a pathway to permanent residence that will end the insecure nature of their employment and immigration status. Out-of-status workers are people who have come to Canada with valid temporary residence…

By Hassan Yussuff, as published in the Globe and Mail.   The holidays aren’t solely about gift-giving and spreading good cheer. Many workers find themselves having to walk a picket line around this time of year. Everywhere you look these days, teachers, public transit workers, railway and refinery workers seem to be involved in some kind of job action as…