National, provincial and territorial labour leaders voice strong opposition to back-to-work legislation in ILWU job action against the BC Maritime Employers Association (BCME)
July 11, 2023
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, labour leaders from across the country reiterated their strong opposition to any attempt by the federal government to introduce back-to-work legislation against International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) workers currently on strike. “Back-to-work legislation would be a misstep that would only aggravate the situation. If the right to strike is weakened by…
The 2022 Labour 7 summit “Shaping the Global Common Good” will take place in Berlin from May 11 to 13. In advance of the summit, trade union leaders from G7 countries have issued the joint Labour 7 statement to the G7 Leaders’ Summit 2022: Shaping the Global Common Good Peace and Democracy, Climate Action, Health, Fair Digitalisation. You can read the…
Canada’s unions stand in solidarity with citizens of Hong Kong
June 3, 2020
The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) stands in solidarity with labour unions, workers and citizens in Hong Kong as they battle for their democratic freedom. The latest escalation in this long-fought struggle is the recent introduction of national security legislation by the Chinese government which will allow Chinese state security forces to operate in Hong Kong. “Our Brothers and Sisters are…
Canada’s Unions call on the Canadian government to fight to stop the annexation of Palestinian lands
June 2, 2020
The Canadian Labour Congress condemns the recent unilateral move by Israel to annex parts of Palestinian territory. This move dismantles decades of work towards a just and negotiated settlement between Israel and Palestine. Israel’s new coalition government has announced it will move forward with the process of annexing West Bank settlements and the Jordan Valley as early as July. The…
Canada needs a national task force on how best to reboot the economy
May 11, 2020
By Hassan Yussuff and Perrin Beatty as published in The Hill Times. Canadians remain physically distanced but the COVID-19 pandemic has tied our well-being to one another like never before. Our fellow Canadians are relying on collective effort to overcome this crisis. Indeed, we are at our best when we work together. Over the past month, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce…
Canada’s unions applaud expansion of income supports
April 15, 2020
OTTAWA – Canada’s unions welcome today’s federal announcement of an expansion of the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to include those who are still making moderate incomes. “The expansion of the CERB to include those continuing to work in low-income, precarious jobs is an important step,” said Hassan Yussuff, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). “This move will be a…
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,…
Let’s grasp this opportunity to shape a fair Canada for everyone
December 2, 2019
By Hassan Yussuff, as published in The Hill Times. Across the generations, our loved ones are anxious about the future. Polls show that millions of Canadians are worried about the rising cost of living, the increasing precarity of work, climate change, and so much more. The newly elected federal government has a lot to do to alleviate these types of…
Canada’s unions stand with locked out steelworkers in Quebec
June 20, 2019
The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) fully supports the United Steelworkers (USW) complaint against the Government of Quebec for violating international labour laws and severely impeding the rights of workers. One thousand members of USW have been locked out of their workplace at an aluminum smelter in Bécancour, Quebec for the past 17 months. Over the spring of 2019, Quebec’s Premier François…
Canada’s unions urge federal government to help restore peace in Venezuela
January 30, 2019
The Canadian Labour Congress, representing over 3 million Canadian workers, calls on the Government of Canada to promote dialogue to foster a peaceful solution to the Venezuelan crisis. Canada is among several countries, including the U.S. and Brazil, that endorsed Juan Guaidó, Venezuelan opposition leader and President of the National Assembly, who declared himself interim President of Venezuela last week.…