The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) is Canada’s major umbrella organization of national unions, provincial federations of labour and local labour councils and represents over three million workers.

Bea Bruske from United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) was elected as the CLC’s President. She replaces retiring President Hassan Yussuff who has held the position for two terms spanning the past seven years. Bruske, who received overwhelming support from convention delegates, was previously Secretary Treasurer and a negotiator with UFCW 832 and a Vice-President of the UFCW Canada National Council.

“I am honored to be elected as CLC’s new President and I’m looking forward to working with a dedicated team committed to advancing the interests of the nation’s workers and their families,” said Bruske. “We are committed to building a Canada that works for everyone. Among our key priorities will be to ensure workers are centered in the post-pandemic recovery.”

Lily Chang was elected to replace outgoing Secretary-Treasurer Marie Clarke Walker. Chang was previously Treasurer of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) local 79.

Returning Executive Vice-President Larry Rousseau was re-elected for a second term. Rousseau was first elected to the position at the 2017 CLC Convention in Toronto.

Newly elected Executive Vice-President Siobhán Vipond replaces outgoing Executive Vice-President Donald Lafleur. Vipond was the Secretary-Treasurer of the Alberta Federation of Labour.

Nearly 4,000 delegates from across Canada participated in the CLC’s first ever virtual convention and debated issues including pharmacare, the creation of good jobs and how to ensure a strong COVID-19 pandemic recovery plan that addresses racial and gender inequities. They also passed resolutions on combating Islamophobia and Anti-Asian racism, as well as a resolution calling for the federal government fulfill the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Delegates to the Convention also elected labour council and equity representatives who will lead for the coming mandate. These positions include representation for LGBTQ2SI, young workers, workers of colour, Indigenous workers and disability rights, as well as regional representatives across Canada.

New Officers and council members were sworn in late Friday just prior to the Convention’s close.

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OTTAWA – This week, union members from across the country are meeting online for the Canadian Labour Congress’ triennial convention to debate the labour movement’s priorities and to elect new leadership.

The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) is Canada’s major umbrella organization of national unions, provincial federations of labour and local labour councils and represents over three million workers.

The convention, originally scheduled for last May but postponed due to the pandemic, will be CLC President Hassan Yussuff’s final official duty before his retirement.

Yussuff became the first person of colour to lead Canada’s union movement when he was elected to the presidency in 2014 after having spent 15 years as part of the Executive team in various roles. Yussuff was planning to step down in 2020, but his term was extended to help confront the challenges of the pandemic.

“Practically overnight, Canada’s workers were looking down a dark, uncertain tunnel of fear about safety, joblessness, precarity and disruption that we had to address quickly,” said Yussuff, who worked with the federal government to push for worker protections. “Our priorities included ensuring that workers had adequate personal protective equipment, emergency income supports, and ensuring that governments addressed the gaps impacting frontline workers, including women and members of equity seeking communities. We were able to do much of this and help workers get through one of the most challenging moments in our history.”

Yussuff has long been at the forefront of improving conditions for Canada’s workers and their families, winning victories like a $15 dollar federal minimum wage, an expanded Canada Pension Plan, a national ban on asbestos and funding for a national child care program, and paid domestic leave, among other gains. Yussuff sat on the government’s NAFTA advisory panel, as part of an unprecedented involvement of Canada’s labour unions in the trade negotiations, and he also co-chaired the Just Transition Task Force for Canadian Coal Power Workers and Communities.

This year’s convention theme is “Defining the Future.” Delegates will be tasked with debating key policy resolutions that will address current and emerging issues in Canada’s political landscape, and will help shape a strong COVID-19 pandemic recovery.

“This event is ground-breaking,” said Yussuff. “Never before have so many union members met virtually in a setting such as this one. We hope to establish a clear roadmap for Canada’s unions that includes looking ahead to a strong pandemic recovery that puts people first, and leaves no one behind. This event will be a defining moment for Canada’s unions.”

Delegates will be electing a new CLC executive on Friday, June 18. They will cast electronic ballots for the roles of President, Secretary-Treasurer and Executive Vice-Presidents.

To arrange an interview, please contact:
CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca
613-526-7426

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