Budget 2023: Progress for workers but only scratches the surface of pressing crises
March 28, 2023
Bruske: Workers will benefit from good, sustainable jobs but budget falls short on affordability and care OTTAWA – While today’s federal budget includes measures to create good, sustainable jobs and ease financial pressures for some, more action is needed to extend a helping hand to hard-pressed families. “Canada’s unions applaud the government’s investment in sustainable jobs and training, which will…
CLC President Bea Bruske available to react to budget
March 27, 2023
OTTAWA – Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), will be available to comment on Budget 2023, and to discuss its impact on workers and their families. Canada’s unions are calling for a workers’ budget, that prioritizes real and strategic investments in publicly funded, publicly delivered services like health care, and measures to permanently strengthen our EI system. …
Workers are sounding the alarm—parliamentarians must take heed
February 1, 2023
By Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress as published in The Hill Times Ask any worker in Canada how they are faring right now, and they will most likely tell you that they are struggling. The issues facing workers and their families are stacking up. Eye-watering costs for food, housing, and other necessities are hammering workers’ wallets. Inflation…
Canada’s unions welcome improved long-term care standard —but demand an end to for-profit care
January 31, 2023
OTTAWA – Canada’s unions welcome improvements to the National Long-Term Care Services Standard but they must be even stronger. The standard released today focus on resident-centered care, a model of senior care that is accommodating and respectful of the resident’s personal wishes and that works directly with the health workers providing the care. “We are happy to see the government…
Politicians must collaborate to find solutions for Canada’s struggling workers
January 24, 2023
Bruske: The choices facing decision-makers in the coming months will shape Canada for years to come and Canada’s unions will be there to demand a better Canada for all workers. OTTAWA- As the cabinet retreat adjourns and all parties prepare for the return of Parliament next Monday, Canada’s unions are urging cooperation and collaboration focused on helping struggling families. December’s…
Beware of Premiers bearing promises of a quick health care fix
January 16, 2023
By Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, and Patty Coates, President of the Ontario Federation of Labour, as published in National Newswatch. Winston Churchill famously said, ‘Never let a good crisis go to waste,’ and clearly Premiers Doug Ford in Ontario and Danielle Smith in Alberta, took note. Both are seizing this crisis in our health care system…
To achieve gender equality, Canada’s decision makers must prioritize investments in care
September 22, 2022
Canada’s unions are marking Gender Equality Week by calling on the federal government to reduce and redistribute women’s unpaid care work and help fix Canada’s broken care systems. “Investments in care are essential if we’re going to reduce and redistribute women’s unpaid work and pave the way for women to take on paid work, or to access education or training,”…
Politicians must put aside the rhetoric and fix the affordability crisis
September 20, 2022
Bruske: MPs must work together to help families in need and clamp down on corporate greed OTTAWA – As Parliament reconvenes this week, Canada’s unions are urging Members of Parliament to put aside glib rhetoric and work together to provide relief for those who need it most amid the ongoing affordability crisis. Today’s inflation numbers showed that while CPI has…
Equal pay for work of equal value: it’s long past the time for employers and governments to get it right on pay equity
September 18, 2022
Canada’s unions are calling on governments around the world, at all levels, to take urgent action on pay equity. This includes addressing pay disparities in jobs dominated by women, like the care sector, and lessening the burden of unpaid care that is disproportionately shouldered by women around the world. “The global care economy is in crisis. Here in Canada, underfunding,…
Unions pave path to the middle class for millions of Canadians
September 5, 2022
Bruske: Growing momentum for workers to demand better OTTAWA–Canada’s unions are marking Labour Day by celebrating the hard-fought gains of the labour movement and bringing workers, their families and allies together in solidarity, united in their commitment to the important work ahead. “The collective power of workers and our long fight for fairness has delivered the forty-hour work week, pensions,…