Record bank profits reveals pandemic’s economic winners and losers
August 25, 2021
Today, RBC and the National Bank released their third-quarter profits, which came in at $4.3 and $2.3 billion, up from $3.2 billion and $2.0 billion in the same quarter last year, respectively. These immense profits made by Canada’s largest financial institutions are yet another example of how Canada’s wealthiest individuals and corporations have benefitted from the pandemic, while so many…
Canada’s unions support C-253, legislation to protect workers in the event of company insolvency
May 13, 2021
Canada’s unions are pleased to see the Members of Parliament taking action to put workers and retirees first in the event of an organization’s insolvency filing by moving Bill C-253, introduced by MP Marilène Gill, forward to study by parliamentary committee. “We urge all parties to adopt this legislation,” said Hassan Yussuff, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). “Workers…
Canada’s unions mark World Day for Decent Work with a call for a robust economic recovery plan
October 7, 2020
COVID-19 has exposed flaws in social protections in Canada and around the world. The effects of this pandemic on health, employment, income, gender and racial equity are all the more catastrophic because of pre-existing gaps in our social safety net. Before the pandemic, ever-increasing globalization meant many workers were employed in precarious, low-wage work with few, if any, benefits. Now…
Supreme Court ruling on Uber underscores workers’ rights
June 26, 2020
OTTAWA – By ruling today that Uber drivers have a right to reasonable dispute resolution, the Supreme Court of Canada has defended the workers’ rights. “This decision underscores the message that a worker is a worker,” said Canadian Labour Congress President, Hassan Yussuff. “This ruling sends a clear message to employers that they can’t skirt around workers’ rights by using…
Canada’s unions warn against growing threat of privatization
June 25, 2020
OTTAWA – Canada’s unions are warning against the growing threat of privatization in a new report released today. “As we face the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of the public sector has never been more evident,” said Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) President Hassan Yussuff. “Public sector workers have kept our communities running day-to-day, ensuring that Canadians can rely on the services…
By Hassan Yussuff as published in National Newswatch. We are in the midst of a global pandemic. The federal government is introducing new programs almost daily to support millions of Canadians who have been affected by this crisis. Public service employees are doing amazing work getting that support to the people who need it. Meanwhile, the calls for austerity are…
Canada’s unions mark May Day by launching campaign to advocate for frontline heroes
May 1, 2020
Canada’s unions are marking International Workers’ Day this year by launching a new campaign to bring attention to the vital contributions of essential workers and to advocate for better treatment. “There are 4.9 million workers across the country who have been deemed essential, and many of them have been struggling to make a decent living for years,” said CLC President…
Protect the women who make our clothes: Canada’s unions and civil society organizations call for action
April 24, 2020
Seven years after the tragic Rana Plaza building collapse, Bangladesh garment sector workers now confront even more risk and vulnerability in the fight against COVID-19. Canada’s unions and civil society organizations are calling for immediate relief for workers and protection of rights in global supply chains. The coalition says that concerns for workers cannot stop at Canada’s borders and the…
Canada’s unions call on banks to reduce credit card interest rates for all
April 8, 2020
OTTAWA – Canada’s unions are calling on the country’s financial institutions to do more to mitigate the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic by further reducing credit card interest rates and applying new rates to anyone with a credit card. “This pandemic has led to major disruption in the lives of many Canadians and is taking a financial toll. Many…
Canada’s unions are calling on Canada’s banks and credit card companies to step up and take action to support families through the COVID-19 crisis by reducing sky-high credit card interest rates. “The Bank of Canada has reduced its lending rate to historically low levels and that means it’s cheaper for financial institutions to borrow money,” said Canadian Labour Congress President,…