Canada’s unions support the call for immediate action to end violence against Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people
June 3, 2019
Canada’s unions are calling the long-awaited report on the inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls the necessary and long overdue blueprint for immediate action. The report, released today, follows three years of painful testimonies from 2000 affected individuals and their families, shared during dozens of community meetings across the country. “The final report calls what is happening…
When government, employers & unions take domestic violence seriously
March 8, 2019
By Hassan Yussuff, Derrick Hynes, and the Hon. Patty Hajdu In the four years since the release of the first-ever pan-Canadian study on the impact of domestic violence at work, unions, employers and governments have embarked on a remarkable joint project to help protect jobs and promote workplace safety. We now have a common understanding of the magnitude of this…
International Women’s Day: #DoneWaiting for equality in the workplace
March 5, 2019
Canada’s Unions are marking International Women’s Day in 2019 with a bold message on the future of women and work: women are #DoneWaiting for fairness at work. It’s time to expose what it’s like #BeingAWomanAtWork and demand changes to help make workplaces and working life better for women. #DoneWaiting is a campaign for women’s economic justice. Launched one year ago, the campaign…
16 days of action: Towards ending gender-based violence
November 22, 2018
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25 marks the first day of 16 globally recognized days of activism to end gender-based violence. This year, Canada’s unions are taking action to specifically address gender-based violence in the workplace. Violence and harassment are a daily reality for far too many workers in Canada. The #MeToo movement…
Canada’s unions call federal budget bill a boon for workers
October 30, 2018
Canada’s unions welcome measures in Monday’s federal budget implementation act that provide important progress for working people, including plans to achieve pay equity, provide paid domestic violence leave, protect workers during contract retendering, and otherwise elevate Canada’s labour standards. Introducing a new Pay Equity Act will bring in long-awaited legislation requiring federally-regulated employers to create proactive pay equity plans that…
Canada’s unions call for better protections against workplace violence and harassment
April 23, 2018
This National Day of Mourning, Canada’s unions are calling on the federal government to do more to address workplace violence and harassment. Every April 28, Canada’s unions join workers and their families to mourn those who have been injured or killed on the job. Workplace violence and harassment have also led to worker deaths, as well as significant mental and…
Help end bullying and harassment on the International Day of Pink
April 11, 2018
Canada’s unions have a long history of celebrating diversity and challenging discrimination, harassment and bullying. On April 11, the International Day of Pink, people are encouraged to wear pink in their school, workplace or community as a show of solidarity with survivors of homophobic and transphobic bullying. “Harassment and violence are serious barriers to equality, particularly for LGBTQ2SI workers, who…
Paid domestic violence leave gets boost in 2018 federal budget
March 9, 2018
Canada’s unions are celebrating the federal government’s recent announcement that it plans to amend the Canada Labour Code to include five days of paid domestic violence leave for workers in federally-regulated workplaces. This news expands on last year’s promise of ten days of unpaid leave for workers experiencing domestic violence. “Canada’s unions have been advocating for paid domestic violence leave…
A day rooted in women’s ongoing struggle for fairness, economic equality and social justice.
March 8, 2018
March 8, 1975 marked the first declaration of International Women’s Day (IWD) by the United Nations, but its roots trace back to a 1909 protest in support of women garment workers in New York City. Unions have been key to changing the lives of working women – from the bread and roses movement, to bargaining (and striking) to win parental…