Canada’s unions mark May Day by calling on governments to prioritize workers and their families
May 1, 2021
Canada’s unions are marking May Day by urging the federal government to act quickly to implement its most recent budget promises, which include significant investments in child care, job creation and skills training. May Day is an annual celebration held every May 1st during which workers from around the world celebrate the achievements made by trade unions. This year, the…
Canada’s unions stand with India’s farmers and farm workers
December 22, 2020
Canada’s unions stand in solidarity with farmers and agricultural workers in India as they continue to protest recent reforms to agricultural laws that deregulate the industry and leave farmers and farm workers vulnerable to exploitation by international corporations. “Deregulating local produce markets will have a devastating impact on farmers, farm workers and food security in India,” said Canadian Labour Congress…
A historic step towards greater protections for workers around the world
June 21, 2019
Canada’s unions join workers everywhere in celebrating today’s historic adoption of a new International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention and Recommendation addressing violence and harassment in the world of work. After over a year of negotiations with governments, employers, and workers, the Centenary International Labour Conference adopted the new framework at its convention in Geneva. “It is a historic day,” said…
Just Transition Task Force report has potential to put people at the heart of climate policy
March 11, 2019
Canada’s unions welcome the federal government’s release of the final report of the Just Transition Task Force for Canadian Coal Power Workers and Communities, along with the accompanying report: “What We Heard from Canadian Coal Power Workers and Communities”. “The Task Force worked to put people and communities at the heart of climate policy by developing ten practical and concrete recommendations…
UN World AIDS Day: Global efforts to end HIV/AIDS get a boost in Nigeria
November 30, 2018
Ahead of this year’s UN World AIDS Day, Canada’s unions are pleased to join international efforts to better assess workplace programs aimed at promoting HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, and treatment in Nigeria. The Canadian Labour Congress is working with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Trade Union Congress-UK to support the National HIV Workplace Assessment in the sub-Saharan nation. Nigeria…
November 20 is the Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR). Communities around the world hold vigils, rallies and other memorial events on this day to honor two spirit, trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming people who have been murdered because of their gender identity. “Trans people face disproportionately high levels of violence and harassment. Ensuring respect and fair treatment for trans workers…
Union wins the biggest pay equity payout in history
October 29, 2018
On October 29, 1999 the federal government announced its plan to implement what stands as the biggest pay equity pay out in history. It was sweet victory for the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), which filed the original complaint to the Canadian Human Rights Commission on behalf of its members in 1984. Fair pay means that the work women…
On October 20, 1904 the leader of Canada’s first social democratic government and the father of Medicare – Tommy Douglas – was born in Camelon, Scotland. A Baptist minister by calling, Douglas would serve as one of Canada’s first CCF Members of Parliament, Premier of Saskatchewan and the first leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada. Often called the…
Canada’s unions applaud the federal government for introducing regulations to ban the import, export, manufacture, sale and use of asbestos and asbestos-containing products. The regulations, announced in December 2016 will come into force on December 30, 2018. “This is a critical step on the long road to banning asbestos, and will, without a doubt, save lives for generations to come,”…
On October 14, 1976 over a million workers walked off the job across Canada as part of a General Strike called by the Canadian Labour Congress to protest the federal government’s plans to impose wage and price control legislation – a broken campaign promise and betrayal of workers by the Trudeau Liberal government. As Canada moved into the 1970s, workers…