There is no domestic supply shock in Canada. The cost of refining gasoline here has not suddenly increased. Yet prices at the pump are rising exponentially, and workers are paying the price.

We’ve seen this before. After the invasion of Ukraine, global oil giants posted record profits, nearly $1 trillion worldwide in 2022, while families struggled with rising costs.

When global instability drives up fuel and transportation costs, it doesn’t just show up at the gas pump. It raises the cost of groceries, heating, and everyday essentials. And it’s working families who are feeling it most.

The federal government may not control global oil markets, but it must act decisively to protect Canadians from the worst impacts with timely relief.

Canada’s unions are calling for three immediate steps that would make a real difference:

1. Expand supports targeted at working-class Canadians, including the Canada Workers Benefit and grocery-related affordability measures.
2. Introduce a ‘fuel rebate’ to help consumers cope with rising energy costs. Relief should be targeted, timely, and focused on those who need it most. 
3. Summon the CEOs of Canada’s largest oil companies to Ottawa to explain how they are going to hold down gasoline prices at the pump. Canadians deserve transparency and accountability on pricing, especially at a time when many corporations continue to make record profits.

While provinces have primary jurisdiction over regulating gasoline and heating prices outside of national emergencies, that cannot be an excuse for inaction. All levels of government must work together to protect Canadians from rising costs.

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To arrange an interview, please contact:
CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca
613-526-7426

The post Canada’s unions call for immediate action as global oil shock drives up costs for Canadians appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

With more than 240 organizations and 370 business and industry delegates participating in the Team Canada Trade Mission to Mexico, labour was not meaningfully included in shaping Canada’s trade strategy with Mexico, even as workers face significant economic instability and restructuring.

“Trade deals shape jobs, industries, public services and entire communities. Workers must have a seat at the table for any trade missions and negotiations to be truly meaningful,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “Any trade strategy or deal Canada makes must benefit workers and support long-term growth through a worker-centred economic strategy. Trade must be a tool to build Canadian industry and good jobs, not an end in itself.”

Bruske added: “If a trade deal doesn’t put workers and Canadian jobs first, we are better off without it.”

Unions are calling on the federal government to anchor Canada’s trade approach in three core principles.

First, trade must be worker-centred and enforceable. Canada must insist on strong labour chapters with real penalties, including robust health and safety protections, safeguards for women and migrant workers, and clear measures to address gender-based violence at work. Labour standards cannot be symbolic: they must be enforceable and backed by real penalties.

Second, Canada must preserve its policy and regulatory space. Trade negotiations must strengthen—not restrict—our ability to build domestic manufacturing, expand value-added production, tax multinational corporations fairly, regulate artificial intelligence in the public interest, meet climate commitments, and expand public services.

“Government investments must come with clear conditions: good union jobs, community benefits, Buy Canadian procurement policies, and guarantees that jobs stay in Canada,” said Bruske. “Canada must not trade away economic sovereignty for market access.”

Third, public services must be protected. Trade agreements cannot undermine public health care, child care, housing, transit, clean energy, or employment insurance. Strong public services are strategic assets that help communities weather economic uncertainty.

As Canada and Mexico deepen economic integration across advanced manufacturing, clean energy, critical minerals and AI, any partnership must benefit all workers in Canada and Mexico, not just corporations.

“Canada’s workers built this country’s prosperity. They expect their government to advance worker-centred, worker-first trade, and labour must be at the table,” said Bruske.

The post Statement from Bea Bruske: Canada’s unions must be at the table in trade talks appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Canada’s trade policy is failing workers, families and entire communities. For too long, decisions have been made behind closed doors that cost Canadians their jobs, hollow out our industries, and weaken our public services.

The message to parliamentarians is a simple one: Labour has a clear plan and it must have a seat at the table.

WHAT: An economic strategy and future trade deals must centre workers

WHEN: Wednesday, February 4 at 1:15 PM ET

WHERE: Rogers Centre (55 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa), Trillium Room or via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82682528884 (Meeting ID: 826 8252 8884)

WHO:

• Bea Bruske, President, Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)
• Lana Payne, National President, Unifor
• Mark Hancock, National President, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
• Marty Warren, National Director, United Steelworkers (USW)
• Sharon DeSousa, President, Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)
• David Chartrand, General Vice-President, Machinists Union (IAM Union)

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To arrange an interview, please contact: 
 CLC Media Relations 
 media@clcctc.ca 
 613-526-7426

The post Labour movement to Parliament: it’s time to put workers at the centre of Canada’s trade strategy appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“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 industries, regions, and different levels of government while bringing workers into the heart of decision-making. 

We want to work together to ensure that trade diversification efforts are not just about opening new markets, but about building the infrastructure and capacity here at home to succeed. That means major federal investment in warehousing, rail, ports, energy, and logistics, all delivered with prevailing wage requirements and strong labour standards. It also means supporting decarbonization so that Canadian exports can reach Europe and other markets without being penalized by carbon border tariffs.

The new ‘Buy Canada’ plan could become a powerful tool for strengthening our economy and creating demand for Canadian products. But we know from past experience that procurement rules only succeed if they are designed to prioritize creating and protecting good, unionized jobs. Otherwise, public money will flow into corporations and private hands without securing long-term benefits for communities and working people.

Workers welcome enhancements to Employment Insurance — this is a great move that if done right is an essential piece of building a resilient economy. As government moves ahead, it will be important to ensure these improvements cover everyone who needs them, including women, young people, and those in precarious or non-standard jobs.

There are always ways to find savings, but governments must remember that economic strength also depends on strong public services. Canadians need access to health care, child care, and housing that help bring down costs for families. Workers need confidence that Employment Insurance, skills training, and supports will be there when they are needed most. These investments make the economy more resilient and help families weather the shocks that tariffs, trade disruptions, and corporate decisions can bring. With unemployment rising and the job market deteriorating fast, now is the worst possible time for austerity and severe budget cuts to social programs and public-service jobs.

While today’s announcement is welcome, there are still some gaps that need to be addressed. For steel and aluminum producers, the absence of strengthened tariff rate quotas is a missed opportunity. Without this breathing room, workers and employers alike will struggle to adapt to fast-changing market conditions. On electric vehicles, relief for automakers must be tied to clear commitments: investments in Canadian production, guarantees for Canadian jobs, and support for the transition measures that unions are calling for. Canadians expect no less when billions of dollars in public funds are being put on the table.

The funding programs and worker supports announced today are important, but they will only succeed if they look beyond short-term reskilling. We want to ensure these tools prioritize upskilling, retention, and pathways to unionization so that workers can build stable, long-term careers in growing industries.

Canada’s unions will continue to push for a bold and comprehensive plan — one that connects today’s measures into a coherent industrial strategy, ensures public investments build Canadian capacity, and guarantees that the payback is measured in secure union jobs. We look forward to working with government to make that vision a reality, because that’s the only way to secure Canada’s future in a turbulent global economy.”

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To arrange an interview, please contact:
CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca
613-526-7426

The post Statement by Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, on the Prime Minister’s trade and tariff announcement appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Let’s be clear: capitulation hasn’t delivered Canada a single gain from Trump. Whether it was scrapping the digital services tax or making concessions on border security, giving in has only weakened our industries and hurt working people. Removing counter-tariffs now would once again hand Trump an easy victory while leaving Canadian workers and communities to pay the price.

Counter-tariffs are not symbolic. They are Canada’s line of defence in this escalating trade war. Unilaterally removing counter-tariffs now would betray the clear mandate Canadians gave the Prime Minister: fight back against Trump’s trade war and defend good Canadian jobs.

Caving to Trump is not an option. It’s time to hit back hard, to stand up for workers, and to deploy every tool available to protect our industries and our communities. Prime Minister Carney must use Canada’s considerable bargaining power to prevent the decimation of vital industries and the loss of thousands of good jobs.

The post Statement from Bea Bruske on Carney’s plan to remove U.S. counter-tariffs appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

This reckless escalation is a direct attack on Canadian workers, businesses, and local economies. The impact threatens to devastate Canada’s steel and aluminum industries, shut Canadian producers out of the U.S. market, and jeopardize thousands of good, unionized jobs across the country.

Bea Bruske (Canadian Labour Congress), Candace Laing (Canadian Chamber of Commerce), and Carole Saab (Federation of Canadian Municipalities) will outline the urgent need for a coordinated federal response to defend Canadian jobs, businesses, and communities.

WHAT:           Joint press conference on U.S. tariffs and their impact on Canada

WHEN:          Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 1:00 PM ET

WHERE:        Press Conference Room 135-B, West Block, Parliament Hill

WHO:            Bea Bruske, President, Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)
                       Candace Laing, President and CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC)
                       Carole Saab, CEO, Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)

Please RSVP to: 
CLC Media Relations 
media@clcctc.ca 
613-526-7426

The post Canada’s Labour, Business, and Municipal Leaders Respond to Trump’s Tariff Hike appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

At a joint press conference today, Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) President Bea Bruske and Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ) President Magali Picard called on the federal government to deliver urgent and robust support for affected workers, industries and communities.

“Over one million jobs. That’s what’s on the line. These reckless and unjustified tariffs from President Trump are a direct attack on Canadian workers, our industries and our economy,” said Bea Bruske. “Workers are watching. They want to know if their government has their back and is ready to fight for them. We need a plan to protect livelihoods, stabilize communities and stand up to the United States.”

With the U.S. expected to impose sweeping tariffs as early as this afternoon, Bruske emphasized the gravity of the situation, citing the 123,000 jobs in Canada’s steel and aluminum industries and over 587,000 auto and supply chain jobs at risk.

“These are not just numbers on a spreadsheet,” added Bruske. “These are real people, real families and real communities who are already stretched to the brink. The time for warnings is over. This is real, and we need immediate action.”

Beyond manufacturing and resource sectors, Bruske warned that the ripple effects of these tariffs threaten Canada’s broader economy, including critical jobs in healthcare and public services.

“Let’s be clear. When our economy suffers, public services are at risk. Cuts to healthcare and public care services always follow austerity. And right now, in the midst of an election, is not the time to slash support for the very public servants who keep this country running,” said Bruske.

The CLC and FTQ are urging all political parties to deliver bold commitments that put Canadian workers first, including:

• Investing in public healthcare and housing affordability
• Cracking down on corporate price gouging
• Making corporations pay their fair share
• Cutting off U.S. access to key Canadian resources—such as electricity, lumber, critical minerals and oil and gas—until tariffs are lifted
• Supporting communities through job protections and public service investments

FTQ President Magali Picard echoed Bruske’s call to action and emphasized the unity of Canada’s labour movement.

“This isn’t just an economic crisis, it’s a national emergency for workers and families,” said Picard. “We cannot allow our communities to shoulder the cost of a political game being played in the U.S. Canada’s unions are united. We are ready to fight—together—for the jobs, livelihoods and future of every worker in this country.”

Picard stressed the significance of the upcoming federal election and urged Canadians to hold their leaders accountable. “This is a defining moment for Canada. We need leaders who are prepared to go to the mat for workers—who won’t waver in the face of pressure from foreign governments or corporate lobbyists. The path forward will be hard, but if we act with courage and unity, we can protect our jobs, our industries and our communities,” added Picard.

Canada’s unions are united in this fight and will continue to press all levels of government to put working people first in the face of growing uncertainty.

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To arrange an interview, please contact:
CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca
613-526-7426

The post Canada’s unions call for immediate action on U.S. tariffs threatening over one million jobs appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Ivaco, a major Eastern Ontario employer, has slashed over 150 jobs in just two weeks—some permanently.

Workers and communities can no longer afford government inaction.

Event Details:

WHO:

• Larry Rousseau, CLC Executive Vice-President
• Jocelyn Bernier, President, USW Local 8794
• Richard Leblanc, USW Area Co-ordinator
• Bea Bruske, CLC President

WHAT: Support workers being hit with layoffs due to tariffs

WHEN: Wednesday, March 19, 2:30 p.m. ET

WHERE: USW Hawkesbury Union Hall, 212–250 Main St. E., Hawkesbury, ON

*Note that there will not be an audio box.*

Interviews with all the speakers will be available on-site.

Quotes

“There’s a growing sense of uncertainty for those workers, and it’s hard to plan for the future when there’s constant hostility. If Ivaco goes under, the entire community will face devastation. We need stability and immediate government actions, not just for the workers, but for the entire town to thrive.”

—Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress

“The company has pointed to tariffs and a lack of orders as the reason behind these job losses and disruptions, but the real issue is the unpredictability of the situation. This uncertainty is weighing heavily on workers, and it’s not just them who are affected. The future of this facility has a ripple effect on the entire local economy.”

—Éric Fournier, president of USW Local 7940, which represents 225 workers in Ivaco’s Rolling Mills, including the 120 workers affected by the temporary layoffs.

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To arrange an interview, please contact:
CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca
613-526-7426

The post Government action needed as U.S. tariffs cause Canadian job losses appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Just today, Trump announced yet another round of retaliatory tariffs on steel and aluminum, this time in response to Ontario’s energy surcharge.

“This is spiraling out of control, and workers across Canada are rightfully alarmed. They are looking to their government for urgent and concrete measures to shield them from job losses and economic uncertainty,” said Bea Bruske, President of the CLC.

Canada’s unions have sent a letter to Prime Minister Designate Mark Carney, pressing him and his incoming cabinet to take immediate steps to strengthen Employment Insurance (EI), particularly for high earners who are now at risk of layoffs. The federal government has yet to fully wield its authority under the EI Act, which grants it the power to launch pilot programs and allocate emergency funding through the EI Commission.

While the newly announced $6 billion aid package and EI reforms provide some short-term relief, they fall far short of the long-term security that workers and communities desperately need. This is a moment for bold leadership—workers cannot afford hesitation or half-measures.

“Canadian workers are under attack in an unprecedented economic trade war, and the government’s response simply does not go far enough,” added Bruske. “We need more than band-aid solutions. We need a comprehensive strategy that ensures no worker is left behind. The government must take decisive action, including imposing export taxes on Canadian energy, to demonstrate that Canada will stand firm in defending its industries and workforce.” 

The letter outlines key priorities to support workers and strengthen the economy, including:

• Expanding and strengthening Employment Insurance (EI): Ensuring EI benefits are more accessible and adequate for all workers. 

• Taking action to preserve good jobs: Implementing industrial strategies to protect Canadian industries and their workers from economic shocks and global instability. 
• Investing in Canada’s domestic economy: Supporting economic diversification, manufacturing, and sustainable industries to create stable, well-paying jobs. 
• Protecting and strengthening public services: Ensuring vital public services remain strong and publicly funded to support all Canadians. 

“This trade war has exposed serious vulnerabilities in our economy, and it’s workers who are bearing the brunt of the impact,” Bruske added. “The government must move beyond stopgap measures and commit to real investments that safeguard livelihoods and build a resilient future.” 

The Canadian Labour Congress urges the federal government to work closely with unions and labour organizations to develop a robust plan that prioritizes workers, secures jobs, and strengthens communities. Canada’s economic recovery depends on it. 

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To arrange an interview, please contact: 
CLC Media Relations 
media@clcctc.ca 
613-526-7426 

Link to the letter sent to the Prime Minister-designate available here. 

The post Canada’s unions to Carney: Protect workers from job losses and uncertainty appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) President Bea Bruske will be available for media interviews following the emergency meeting.  

MEDIA AVAILABILITY: 
WHO: Bea Bruske, President, Canadian Labour Congress 
WHAT: Media availability on emergency meeting on U.S. tariffs 
WHEN: February 26, 2025
WHERE: Bea Bruske is in Ottawa and the meeting is virtual

Key Policy Items to be Discussed at Canadian Council Meeting: 

• Immediate EI measures to protect jobs and incomes. 
• Halt to public service cuts and a plan to increase support for trade apprenticeship programs. 
• Necessary actions to tackle corporate greed, keep essentials and food affordable, and prevent price gouging. 
• Strengthening domestic industries, reducing reliance on U.S. trade and ensuring continued good union jobs.  
• Investments in critical infrastructure, health care, and education. 

QUOTES:
“As these tariffs roll in, workers must be at the heart of Canada’s response,” said Bea Bruske, President of the CLC. “There is no time to wait. Workers need a bold, worker-first strategy to respond to this crisis. Families are feeling anxious. Workers expect more from their governments. Workers need strong job protections, and a plan to safeguard communities.”

“These tariffs threaten good union jobs and entire industries. Canada must fight back with a comprehensive response that strengthens our economy, reduces reliance on U.S. trade, and ensures workers aren’t left behind.”

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To arrange an interview with Bea Bruske, please contact: 
CLC Media Relations  
media@clcctc.ca  
613-526-7426 

The post Canada’s unions holding third emergency meeting in response to U.S. tariffs appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Steel and aluminum are critical to Canada’s industrial base, supplying essential inputs to the automotive, energy, construction, transportation, and manufacturing sectors. In total, over 43,000 Canadian jobs are directly or indirectly at risk. When Trump imposed similar tariffs in 2018, Canadian steel exports to the U.S. plummeted by 38%, causing economic pain for workers and communities across the country. The aluminum industry, already facing global trade disruptions, now sees 9,500 direct Canadian jobs under threat.

“Donald Trump’s tariffs are a direct attack on Canadian workers and our economy. These tariffs don’t protect jobs—they kill them. Canada cannot sit idly by while our workers are treated as bargaining chips in Trump’s trade war. Our government must respond with strong, immediate action to defend Canadian industries and the workers who keep them running,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress.

Canada’s unions fought back in 2018, and we will fight back again. We call on the federal government to take immediate action to defend Canadian workers, through strong retaliatory measures, investments in affected industries, and direct support for impacted workers.

Trump’s trade war tactics put corporate profits ahead of workers’ livelihoods. Canada must not allow its economy to be held hostage by U.S. policies. We stand with steel and aluminum workers and demand a strong, swift response to protect jobs, industries, and communities.

The post Another Attack on Canadian Workers: Trump’s 25% Tariffs on Canadian Steel and Aluminum appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Tariffs of this magnitude would devastate thousands of jobs in sectors critical to Canada’s economy — and destabilize families, communities, and industries across the country.

What:
Press conference: Standing up for workers, defending jobs and Communities, and fighting back against Trump’s threats

When:
Thursday, January 30, 9:30 a.m.

Where:
The USW office (68 Dennis St, Sault Ste. Marie, ON)
Or
via Zoom (Passcode: 927305)

Who:
Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress
Jagmeet Singh, Leader of the New Democratic Party
Marty Warren, USW National Director for Canada
Kevon Stewart, USW District 6 Director
Michael Da Prat, USW Local 2251 President
Bill Slater, USW Local 2724 President

To arrange an interview, please contact:
CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca

The post Canadian Labour Congress, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, and United Steelworkers to address threat of U.S. tariffs on Canadian jobs appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Four other democracy defenders also received prison sentences and five more were handed suspended sentences. Lee Cheuk Yan will face six more charges in the coming months with other trade union leaders Carol Ng and Winnie Yu who are under pre-trial detention for subversion under the national security law.

“This violates the very basic principle of the freedom of association and the legitimate right of trade unions to participate in social and economic activities,” says Hassan Yussuff, Canadian Labour Congress President. “We stand with our comrade and friend Lee Cheuk Yan and call on the Government of Hong Kong to drop all charges against these activists.”

Trade unions have been at the forefront of the fight to safeguard democracy since China introduced legislative changes – including the national security law – that infringe on Hong Kong sovereignty and criminalize protest. It is weakening the Basic Law of Hong Kong, which upholds the one country, two systems principle that protects freedoms retained in the handover from British rule, including the freedom of assembly and speech, an independent judiciary and some democratic rights that are not protected in the rest of China.

Before the sentencing, Lee Cheuk Yan dedicated the song You’ll Never Walk Alone to the people of Hong Kong. “We will walk together even in darkness, with hope in our heart.”

Canadian unions continue to stand with Hong Kong’s workers, trade union leaders and pro-democracy activists in these dark times.

The post Canada’s unions call for the immediate release of trade union leaders jailed in Hong Kong appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Canada’s unions and civil society organizations are calling for immediate relief for workers and protection of rights in global supply chains.

The coalition says that concerns for workers cannot stop at Canada’s borders and the millions of women and men who make clothes in other countries cannot be abandoned. In particular, efforts to address and rectify dangerous working conditions following the Rana Plaza disaster must not be undone now in the midst of this global crisis.

On April 24, 2013, the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Dhaka, Bangladesh killed at least 1,132 people and injured more than 2,500.

The tragedy put a spotlight on substandard working conditions and low wages in the industry. In response to public outrage at the disaster, more than 200 global brands and retailers signed a legally binding agreement with Bangladesh and Global unions that achieved important improvements in workplace safety.

The current pandemic has created new threats to the lives and livelihoods of garment workers.

Brands and companies have cancelled orders down their supply chains leaving factories unable to pay workers’ wages, even for work already completed. This is leaving millions of people without income and job security. Women are particularly hard hit by this crisis.

Eighty per cent of Bangladesh’s four million garment workers are women. These workers have received poverty wages for years, barely making ends meet and have no financial savings to draw on. Without work, without income, with little access to health care and without any social safety net, they can easily slip into abject poverty and struggle to feed themselves and their families.

In response to the crisis, the Bangladesh government instituted a nationwide public holiday for an extended period. Millions of workers have returned to their villages with empty pockets, unable to collect unpaid wages or severance pay from closed factories. Government relief packages are being channeled through factories, but are proving difficult for workers to access. Some factories have remained open where workers continue to work in cramped conditions, without personal protections.

Canadian unions and civil society organizations stand in solidarity with Bangladesh garment sector workers and with garment sector workers in all countries, and urgently recommend the following:

Payment of orders and wages & worker health and safety
Canadian brands and retailers must honour their obligations to suppliers and workers by paying for orders that are completed or in production. They should ensure the payment of wages or severance to all workers who were employed at the onset of the crisis and ensure that workers who work during the pandemic can follow World Health Organization protection guidelines and reserve the right to refuse unsafe work.

Emergency relief for workers
Governments, including Canada, should support global emergency relief programs for garment sector workers set up with contributions from international financial institutions, donor governments as well as brands and retailers. These programs must maintain workers’ employment and wages.

Mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence
The Government of Canada should legislate companies to respect human rights in their operations and supply chains. Such legislation should require companies to conduct due diligence on their human rights and environmental risks, take appropriate steps to prevent and mitigate such risks, and hold companies accountable in the courts if they abuse human rights.

Rebuilding a just economy after the pandemic
The industry as a whole must change the current pricing and business model moving forward. Canadian brands must commit to establish more sustainable and resilient supply chains that respect workers’ rights and ensure suppliers pay workers living wages and social benefits.

Endorsed by:

Amnesty International Canada (English-speaking branch)
Association québécoise des organismes de coopération internationale
Canadian Council for International Co-operation
Canadian Jesuits International
Canadian Labour Congress
Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability
Canadian Union of Public Employees
Centre international de solidarité ouvrière (CISO)
Fairtrade Canada
Inter Pares
KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
Maquila Solidarity Network
MiningWatch Canada
Nobel Women’s Initiative
Ontario Catholic No Sweat Network
Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation
Oxfam Canada
Public Service Alliance of Canada
Social Justice Connection
The Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association
The United Church of Canada
United Food and Commercial Workers Canada
United Steelworkers
Workers United Canada Council
World March of Women Coordinating Committee

The post Protect the women who make our clothes: Canada’s unions and civil society organizations call for action appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

In the last two months, hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong citizens have protested against an extradition law with China, perceived to undermine Hong Kong’s independence and restrict basic freedoms. These demonstrations have been met with an escalation in police violence, tear gas and rubber bullets. The right to freedom of assembly has been seriously infringed.

Canadian unions support the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions’ call for an independent and credible investigation of police violence and human rights violations and for the release of arrested protestors without charge.

Canadian unions stand in solidarity with workers in Hong Kong in demanding an end to the violence.

The post Democracy protests in Hong Kong appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

The ban was imposed after Chinese customs inspectors detected a prohibited feed additive in a batch of pork shipments labelled as Canadian. The Canada Food and Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed the certificates were fraudulent and an investigation is currently underway.

“The Canadian meat industry is one of Canada’s core economic sectors, employing hundreds of thousands of workers across the country. The ban will affect not only those workers directly employed in the industry, but will be felt all along the value chain by workers in supporting industries,” said CLC President Hassan Yussuff.

In the first four months of 2019, beef and veal exports to China accounted for 6.1 per cent of Canada’s total, an increase of 344 per cent year over year. Pork exports to China accounted for 22.7 per cent of the total, an increase of 80 per cent. China was the fifth-largest destination for Canadian beef and veal and the third-largest destination for Canadian pork.

“We urge the federal government and the CFIA to work closely with the Chinese government to address their concerns around the meat export supervision system and to bring the matter to a swift resolution,” said Yussuff.

Canada’s unions are also calling on the government to introduce a robust and sustainable mechanism to protect workers in industries affected by global trade volatility. The ban on Canada’s meat exports comes on the heels of stricter inspections at Chinese ports and selective bans on farm exporters, which have seen canola, pea and soybean exports to China plummet.

“In this context of increasingly unpredictable trade tensions, workers need to feel confident that their livelihoods are protected. Moving forward, the government must work with the labour movement to establish a concrete plan for safeguarding jobs and incomes in Canada’s export industries,” Yussuff added.

The post Federal government must protect workers following export ban appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“Workers across the country will be happy to learn that NAFTA’s Chapter 11 has finally been eliminated from this trade agreement,” said Canadian Labour Congress President, Hassan Yussuff. “Decades of unfairness have cost Canada over $300 million in penalties and fees and made it clear that the investor-state dispute settlement clause was working against our national interest.”

Canada’s unions are also pleased to see the side agreements on labour moved into the main agreement, now subject to a state-to-state dispute resolution process. “The USMCA gets it right on labour provisions, including provisions to protect workers against employment discrimination on the basis of gender,” said Yussuff.

Protections for the Canadian auto industry, including exemptions from tariffs and labour value requirements, were welcomed. The agreement also maintains exemptions for cultural industries and expands these to include digital industries.

Intellectual property provisions will be strengthened under this new agreement, extending pharmaceutical drug patent protection to 10 years. “Drug costs will rise as a result of this deal. Now more than ever, Canada needs a universal, single-payer prescription drug program to cancel out the impact of mounting costs on Canadian families,” said Yussuff.

Access to Canadian dairy was a focus through the negotiations. Under the new USMCA, US dairy producers will have access to 3.59% of Canada’s domestic milk market. “The federal government must take necessary measures and provide compensation to workers who will be negatively impacted by these concessions. Canada’s unions are concerned and seeking more details on provisions around egg and poultry exports and imports,” said Yussuff.

Yussuff expressed disappointment that the elimination of US tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum products was not part of the new agreement. “The illegal steel and aluminum tariffs imposed by the US earlier this year should have been lifted with this agreement, and I urge the Canadian government to redouble its efforts to eliminate these tariffs,” he said.

Read the 13 facts you need to know about USMCA here.

The post Along with key gains in the USMCA, Canada’s unions raise concern appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

On the first anniversary of CETA’s implementation, trade unions on both sides of the Atlantic are warning that the trade deal is not a ‘model’ agreement and say it is time for an immediate review.

The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) are calling on European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström and Canadian Trade Minister Jim Carr to address the European Commission’s refusal to reinforce the enforceability of CETA’s labour rights provisions. This situation persists despite requests from trade unions and from the Canadian Government. The two senior officials are set to meet in Montreal on September 26 and 27.

“CETA was presented as a new model trade deal,” said Liina Carr, ETUC Confederal Secretary. “But the European Commission is refusing to address the legitimate concerns of working people. Labour rights are still not as enforceable as are investors’ rights. Furthermore, we are still waiting for EU trade policy to promote decent jobs, protect and enhance labour rights, and protect public services. The EU needs to deliver the change it promised.”

“Without effective and enforceable rules for labour and environmental provisions in trade agreements, there is no progressive trade,” said Hassan Yussuff, CLC President. “The EU government must honour its international labour obligations and enforce respect of the CETA provisions with binding and enforceable penalties for violations against workers.”

Amidst massive public protests at the time, CETA was adopted with a ‘Joint Interpretative Instrument’ intended to reassure citizens about its impacts on environmental and labour standards. This agreement included a promise to start an early review of the trade agreement – which still hasn’t taken place to date.

The post Canadian and European trade unions: EU not following through with promises on CETA review appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

CETA has been provisionally applied since September 2017. Both the EU and Canada agreed to an early review “with a view to the effective enforceability of CETA provisions on trade and labour and trade and the environment” as stated in the Joint Interpretative Instrument (JII) at point 10.[1] However, no progress has been made in this regard.

In July 2017, the European Commission launched a consultation on the implementation and enforcement of Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) chapters in EU Free Trade Agreements. The ETUC replied to the consultation in October 2017. The Commission eventually issued a paper outlining 15 action points to revamp the TSD chapter. However, the ETUC deeply regrets that the Commission has brushed away the possibility of introducing a sanction mechanism in the case of persistent breaches of labour rights within EU trade agreements, as has been consistently proposed by the ETUC and other stakeholders.

We note that Canada has been committed to a sanctions-based approach regarding labour rights in its free trade agreements. The EU’s inaction in reviewing CETA is already undermining effective enforceability of labour rights by Canada in third countries with which the EU and Canada have free trade agreements. The EU should finally start to engage seriously to ensure that commitments made by both parties in the TSD chapter to respect core ILO standards and promote the Decent Work agenda become effectively enforceable.

The EU cannot continue to delay reviewing the TSD chapter. Commitments were made by the EU and Canada in the JII to pursue fairer and more progressive trade and investment agreements. The ETUC and CLC call on the EU to join Canada and honour the commitment taken in the JII and start the review of the trade and sustainable development provisions as soon as possible.

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“We support the federal government’s counter-tariffs as a retaliation to the American bullying tactics. Trump’s tariffs will be damaging to workers on both sides of the border. Unions welcome the Canadian government’s rapid response in defense of Canadian workers as an important first step in protecting workers and communities who will be adversely affected by this misguided attack on Canadian industry,” said CLC President Hassan Yussuff.

In particular, the CLC welcomes the following steps announced today:

• Measures that aim to reduce lay-offs by extending the maximum period for Work-Sharing agreements from 38 weeks to 76 weeks;
• Expanded access to retraining and skills development programs to help workers transition to new jobs;
• Federal loans and loan guarantees from the Business Development Bank of Canada and Export Development Canada to help companies in the short and medium term; and
• Investments to diversify export markets overseas and promote the diversification of the steel and aluminum products sectors in Canada.

“The steel and aluminum industries are vital suppliers to the Canadian manufacturing, energy, automotive and construction sectors. Today’s announcement is a good first step to counter the impact of unreasonable U.S. trade demands on workers in Canada. We look forward to working closely with the government to implement further supports for workers as needed,” said Yussuff.

Such additional supports could include an extension of Employment Insurance benefits, wage insurance or “targeted earnings supplements” for workers who find new jobs that pay less, and enhanced mobility assistance, to help workers who have to move or extend their commute to work.

Yussuff also expressed his continued support of immediate action on anti-dumping measures, and advised that the federal government work closely with their provincial and territorial counterparts to develop more robust and targeted training options.

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“I am pleased to see Canada respond so quickly and decisively to defend Canadian workers and industry against President Trump’s bullying tactics. Canada cannot waver in its defence of balanced trade,” said CLC President Hassan Yussuff.

Today, Canada announced plans to stand up to sweeping American tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada. Canada’s plans include new surtaxes and other targeted measures on steel, aluminum and other imports from the U.S. amounting to $16.6 billion, the value of total Canadian exports of steel and aluminum to the U.S. in 2017. These surtaxes are set to take effect on July 1^st, 2018 and will remain in place until U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs are dropped.

“Trump’s aggressive trade provocations against Canada are a totally unjustified and unwarranted sanction against a fair-trading ally,” said Yussuff. “The implications of Trump’s tariffs will be felt on both sides of the border, but in Canada, it will impact the lives of more than 20,000 workers directly employed by the industry, and another 100,000 indirectly employed workers.”

Every year, Canada exports $6 billion worth of steel products to the U.S., and, because of the integrated nature of the North American steel industry, imports steel products of the same value from the U.S. Last year, Canada exported $9.3 billion worth of aluminum products to the United States. Canada’s steel industry is also responsible for millions of dollars worth of research and development throughout the economy.

“Unfair and one-sided trade tactics cannot be allowed to undermine Canadian workers and industry,” said Yussuff. “In the days and weeks ahead, Canada’s unions will be calling on the Canadian and provincial governments to assist Canadian workers and steel and aluminum manufacturers who will need support to maintain their livelihoods and stay in business until this dispute can be resolved.”

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The call comes after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose duties of up to 25% on steel imports, and 10% on aluminum imports. Key details, such as whether fair-trading allies such as Canada will be excluded from duties, have yet to be disclosed.

“The steel sector is one of Canada’s key economic drivers and employers, directly and indirectly supporting good jobs in nearly every region in Canada,” said CLC President Hassan Yussuff.

“If Canada were included in this aggressive trade action, it would affect workers and businesses on both sides of the border. It would decimate Canada’s steel industry and impact the lives of 22,000 workers directly employed by the industry, and another 100,000 indirectly employed workers,” he added.

Every year, Canada exports $6 billion worth of steel products to the U.S., and, because of the integrated nature of the North American steel industry, imports steel products of the same value from the U.S. Last year, Canada exported $9.3 billion worth of aluminum products to the United States.

Canada’s steel industry is also responsible for millions of dollars worth of research and development throughout the economy.

“Federal and provincial governments must vigorously defend the interests of Canadian workers and businesses by demanding that U.S. president Trump exclude fair-trading allies such as Canada,” said Yussuff.

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