Statement by Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, on the Prime Minister’s trade and tariff announcement
September 5, 2025
Ottawa – Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, released the following statement: “Canada’s unions are ready to work with government to make sure today’s announcement delivers for workers and for our economy. Ottawa‘s strategy must prioritize good jobs and better lives for workers their families. To succeed, we need we need a clear industrial strategy that coordinates across…
Happy Labour Day: Workers’ Power Is the Answer to the New Gilded Age
September 1, 2025
By Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress Happy Labour Day. Today, we celebrate the power of workers — past, present, and future. It was workers who won weekends, universal health care, pensions, unemployment insurance, parental leave, pay equity, and health and safety laws. And it will be workers who win the next generation of rights, protections, and fairness. …
Statement from Bea Bruske on Carney’s plan to remove U.S. counter-tariffs
August 22, 2025
Canada’s unions refuse to accept punishing tariffs on our critical export industries as the “new normal.” These tariffs have been an attack on Canadian workers and our economy, and our government must stand strong. Rolling over to Donald Trump’s demands is not an option. Let’s be clear: capitulation hasn’t delivered Canada a single gain from Trump. Whether it was scrapping…
OTTAWA – Air Canada flight attendants, members of CUPE, have delivered a decisive blow to employers who think they can sidestep fair bargaining by hiding behind Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code. Prime Minister Carney’s government chose to impose Section 107 just hours after the strike began—an unprecedented and heavy-handed move to tilt the scales in the employer’s favour.…
Statement from Bea Bruske: Trump’s 35% Tariffs Demand a Bold Response
July 31, 2025
We are once again facing a direct economic assault on Canada and Canadian workers. Donald Trump’s announcement of 35% tariffs on our goods coming into force on August 1st is a calculated attack—an attempt to bully our country, break our backbone, and force us to kneel to his agenda. It comes two days after he imposed a 50% tariff on…
Canada’s unions applaud recognition of Palestinian statehood and urge further action to end the crisis in Gaza
July 31, 2025
Open Letter from Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, to Prime Minister Mark Carney Dear Prime Minister: On behalf of Canada’s unions, I am writing about the unspeakable situation in Gaza and what can only be described as genocide. The October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas was an atrocity. The collective punishment being inflicted on millions of Palestinians in…
Gaza: ITUC condemns Israeli interception of Handala solidarity boat and arrest of trade unionists
July 30, 2025
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) expresses deep concern and condemnation over the recent interception and detention of the civilian vessel Handala by the Israeli military in international waters. The Handala, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was carrying vital humanitarian aid to Gaza, along with 21 peaceful activists committed to human rights and international solidarity. Among those unlawfully detained are…
Council of the Federation must focus on the impact of the trade war on workers
July 22, 2025
Bea Bruske, the President of the Canadian Labour Congress, issued the following statement today: Today, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Canada’s premiers are meeting to discuss the impact of Trump’s trade war on Canada. Workers should be front and centre for Canada’s leaders. This trade war has already taken a major toll on Canada’s workers. We are losing jobs or…
CLC President Bea Bruske in Washington for labour meetings amidst trade war
July 16, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As U.S. President Donald Trump reignites global instability with a reckless 35% tariff threat, international labour leaders are uniting to defend workers and democracy. Tomorrow, Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, is joining Liz Shuler, President of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), and Yasmin Fahimi, President of the German…
Statement by Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress Prime Minister Carney’s instruction to cabinet to identify deep operational savings is a dangerous step in the wrong direction, one that puts critical public services and the workers who deliver them on the chopping block. We’ve already seen nearly 10,000 federal jobs lost in the past year, with thousands of…