On February 13, 2017 in honour of Black History Month, the Canadian Labour Congress is launching “Working While Black”, an educational and interactive webinar series for workers of colour and allies. The series will celebrate the contributions of Black activists and organizers in Canada, strengthen solidarity across movements, and build skills and knowledge for confronting anti-Black racism in workplaces and…
Dear Ms. Leitch, As the President of the Canadian Labour Congress – representing over three million working women and men from every background – I am writing to you with a clear message: racism and division are the most anti-Canadian values of all. Your proposal to screen new immigrants based on so-called “Canadian values” at best pretends to appeal to…
CLC wants Canadian mayors to address use of lethal force and systemic racism in policing
July 28, 2016
Canada’s largest labour organization is saddened and outraged by news of yet another black man dying after a violent confrontation with police, this time in Ottawa, and it calls on Canada’s mayors to take action. 37-year old Somali-Canadian Abdirahman Abdi died on Monday after succumbing to injuries sustained after being pursued and, according to several witnesses, violently beaten by Ottawa…
In solidarity against violence and systemic racism
July 8, 2016
The world is reeling from the devastating shootings in the United States this week. First, two black men were killed by police officers. Then, during a peaceful protest against those shootings, five police officers were shot dead and another seven were injured. “We are all experiencing profound grief and anger right now. But as we take time to mourn the…
Unions stand in support of Syrian refugees and against xenophobia
March 18, 2016
March 21 marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, a day to reflect on racism in our communities and redouble our efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination. Although the Syrian refugee crisis had been building since 2011 due to the civil war that led millions to flee their homes, the haunting picture of a dead…
Today, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) released its final report documenting the dark history and legacy of Canada’s residential school system, in which more than 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis children were subjected to systemic racism, abuse and other forms of mistreatment. The final report, formed after six years of collecting testimony from more than 6,500 survivors, makes…
Asian Heritage Month: A time to celebrate and remember
May 1, 2015
This month workers from East Asia, South Asia, Western and Southeast Asia will celebrate Asian Heritage Month, recognizing the contributions and sacrifices made, and adversity overcome, by generations of Asians in Canada. The Canadian Labour Congress recognizes the rich history of, and contribution by, Asian Canadians to the Canada we live in today. Celebrations will take place during the month…
They come to Canada to fill jobs that employers cannot find Canadians to fill, they work, pay taxes, contribute to CPP and they put back into the local economy. These are Canada’s Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW). The TFW program has existed for years. But now the government has announced it will impose a four year limit on the cumulative duration…
Racism in Canada? Yes, it’s still rampant. And we need a government that will commit to working to end it.
March 18, 2015
On February 24, Quebec court Judge Eliana Marengo told a young Muslim woman named Rania El Alloul that she would not hear her case unless she removed her headscarf. We’ll be thinking of Rania El Alloul and other Canadian Muslims facing discrimination in their day-to-day lives when we commemorate the United Nations (UN) International Day for the Elimination of Racism…
This year’s African Heritage Month is especially important for two reasons; the United Nations (UN) has declared 2015 2024 to be the International Decade for People of African Descent, and this African Heritage Month kick starts a decade of political advocacy throughout the world. Meanwhile in Canada, federal elections will be held this year presenting a real opportunity for the…