Publications

Earth Day 2023: Canada’s unions call on governments to put workers and communities first

This year’s Earth Day theme, Invest in Our Planet, is a timely reminder of the need for our elected leaders to take ambitious and necessary action to tackle the climate emergency. Canada’s unions are calling on the government to move towards a net-zero carbon economy with workers and communities at its core.  As communities across the country and around the…

Canada’s unions reinforce strong opposition to any attempt to force federal public service workers back to work

Bruske: Back-to-work legislation would be a misstep that would only aggravate the situation

Statement by Bea Bruske: Senators vote to put workers and pensioners before big banks and wealthy CEOs

Bruske: Passage of pension protection Bill C-228 is a win for workers and plan members Canada’s unions are celebrating the Senate’s decision to pass Bill C-228 (Pension Protection Act), legislation that will ensure defined-benefit pensions receive super-priority status in bankruptcy and insolvency cases. “Pension protection has been a priority for Canada’s unions for decades. Multiple private members’ bills seeking to…

Statement from Bea Bruske: Canada’s unions stand in solidarity with federal public service workers’ right to strike

Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, released the following statement in solidarity with PSAC members going on strike tomorrow: OTTAWA – Canada’s unions fully support federal public service workers’ right to strike. By refusing to provide the working conditions that federal public service workers deserve, the federal government is lowering the bar to rock bottom for every worker…

Statement from Bea Bruske: Canada’s unions stand in solidarity with federal public service workers

Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, released the following statement in solidarity with PSAC members: OTTAWA—Canada’s unions stand in solidarity with federal public service workers in their fight for a fair collective agreement. Their message to Treasury Board and Canada Revenue Agency, is clear – they won’t be taken for granted, they won’t fall further behind and they…

Statement from Bea Bruske: To uphold refugee rights, Canada must suspend the Safe Third Country Agreement

OTTAWA––Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, released the following statement today:  “On Refugee Rights Day, we recognize and celebrate the 1985 Supreme Court of Canada ruling that refugee claimants are entitled to fundamental justice. Today, Canada’s unions urge the federal government to uphold the principles of fundamental justice and fulfill its moral duty and international obligation to protect…

Budget 2023: Progress for workers but only scratches the surface of pressing crises

Bruske: Workers will benefit from good, sustainable jobs but budget falls short on affordability and care OTTAWA – While today’s federal budget includes measures to create good, sustainable jobs and ease financial pressures for some, more action is needed to extend a helping hand to hard-pressed families. “Canada’s unions applaud the government’s investment in sustainable jobs and training, which will…

CLC President Bea Bruske available to react to budget

OTTAWA – Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), will be available to comment on Budget 2023, and to discuss its impact on workers and their families.  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. …

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…