Held under the theme “Canada’s Unions: We Build, We Care, We Fight,” this year’s Convention will take place over several days, bringing delegates together to debate resolutions on the issues that matter most to workers. They will vote on key policy priorities, help shape the direction of the movement for the years ahead.

Discussions throughout the week will focus on the most pressing challenges facing workers today, including protecting good jobs, tackling the housing and health care crises, addressing affordability, advancing climate action, strengthening the care economy, and defending democracy and workers’ rights.

The Convention will also feature a strong lineup of guest speakers and panelists and international guests.

What:           CLC 31^st Constitutional Convention
When:          May 11–15, 2026
Where:         RBC Convention Centre, Winnipeg

*Some key moments will be livestreamed here.

A full agenda is available at: https://canadianlabour.ca/buildcarefight/

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Media accreditation and inquiries: 
CLC Media Relations 
media@clcctc.ca 

The post Canada’s unions gather in Winnipeg to set workers’ agenda in uncertain times — The CLC’s 31st constitutional convention appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

As we mark May Day across the country, we also acknowledge that Canadian workers face considerable challenges. Our country’s industrial backbone is under threat, and the weight of dire economic times inevitably lands on working people and their families.

On the occasion of May Day, we state proudly that we will continue to work together to protect Canadian jobs and to secure a prosperous future, through worker-centered industrial strategies and a robust Canadian economy that can support Canadian workers for years to come. We will continue to vigorously defend important rights fought for and won by workers, including the right to collectively bargain and the right to strike.

The choices made by governments at all levels in the coming year will shape whether Canada remains a country that builds and produces or one that surrenders its industrial core. This May Day, we recommit ourselves to the fight for a future where every worker has a good union job, a safe workplace, and a seat at the table.

In solidarity,

Lana Payne
Unifor

Bea Bruske
Canadian Labour Congress

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To arrange an interview, please contact:
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613-526-7426

The post Statement of Solidarity by Unifor and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) for May Day 2026 appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“Workers need bold action that lowers costs, protects jobs and strengthens the public services families rely on,” said Bea Bruske, President of the CLC. “Canada’s unions welcome the positive steps announced today and will work hard to get real results for working people.”

In particular, the Canadian Labour Congress welcomes the major investments made in the development of new skilled trade workers in Canada. “This is a smart investment in the future of our country,” said Bruske. “At the same time, we need to see the government invest in building physical and social infrastructure so these skilled workers can be put to work in good, unionized jobs.” 

The CLC also welcomes the extension of special measures on Employment Insurance, providing up to five additional weeks for eligible workers, including extra support for seasonal workers. The government must build on these temporary measures with significant and permanent updates unions have been calling for.  

One area of concern for Canada’s unions is signals pointing toward increased privatization of Canada’s airports. Public infrastructure must remain in public hands. Privatization risks higher costs, weaker accountability and puts good union jobs at risk.

With an improved fiscal outlook in the government’s Spring Economic Update, the CLC is once again calling on the government to pause and reverse its planned cuts to public service jobs and invest in improving services to Canadians. 

“At a time when we’re experiencing job losses due to the Trump trade war, we should not be adding to the ranks of the jobless through cuts, or reducing the services that Canadians rely on,” said Bruske. “Without real investment in the care economy, wages, staffing, and public delivery, inequality will continue to grow.”

Bruske stressed that any new economic strategy must put workers at its centre by:

• Protecting and creating good union jobs in every sector; 
• Supporting workers facing layoffs and economic disruption; 
• Investing in strong, accessible public services, including the care economy and housing; and
• Taking on corporate practices that are driving up costs for working families. 

“Workers built this country and they will build what comes next,” added Bruske. “We are ready to work with government in meeting the significant economic challenges that the country is facing.”

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To arrange an interview, please contact:
CLC Media Relations
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613-526-7426

The post Spring Economic Update response: Workers need real results now appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

On April 28—the National Day of Mourning—workers across Canada come together to remember those killed, injured or made ill from incidents in the world of work, and to recommit to fighting for all workers’ safety and wellbeing. This year, we are shining a light on the growing toll of workplace stress, burnout, and psychological injuries, and honouring those we have lost by suicide and other means, including workers whose lives were taken by work-related psychological harm. In Canada, psychological health and illness are now the number one cause of disability.

“Workers are already bearing the weight of the ongoing affordability crisis, a trade war that no one asked for and mounting geopolitical instability. The news cycle reminds us daily of the pressure workers are feeling: rent is unaffordable, groceries cost too much, public services are stretched thin, and job security is increasingly fragile,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “Going to work should not add significant stress to workers’ lives, and yet almost half of workers report that their job is the most stressful part of their day. This is completely unacceptable. This is not about individual resilience; it is about workplace conditions and the fundamental responsibility of employers to ensure the health and safety of workers.”

The reality facing workers is urgent. Indeed, nearly half of workers say their job is the most stressful part of their day. In 2023 alone, more than 8,500 workplace mental health injury claims were accepted by compensation boards, but the true number is far higher, as many cases go unreported.

The most affected sectors include health care, education, public services, and the skilled trades: sectors where workers are under increasing pressure due to understaffing, high workloads, and exposure to violence and harassment.

“Every worker in Canada has the right to safe work—both physically and psychologically,” said Bruske. “We know how to control physical hazards in the workplace. We must treat psychosocial hazards with the same seriousness as any other workplace hazard; no different than working at heights or exposure to toxic substances. Every workplace should have a plan to identify risks, prevent harm, and protect workers’ psychological health and safety.”

Psychological health and safety is already recognized in law across Canada, and Canada has ratified ILO Convention 190 on violence and harassment at work. Canada’s unions are calling on all levels of government to act: to treat psychological health with the same urgency as physical health in occupational health and safety and workers’ compensation systems; to implement a national approach to preventing psychosocial hazards based on CSA Z1003; to require proactive risk assessments and prevention plans; and to ensure strong enforcement through inspections.

“Workers are being asked to carry more and more, while supports fall behind,” said Bruske. “Work should not make people sick. No one should have to sacrifice their mental health to earn a living. Employers have a responsibility to make work safe, for both body and mind.”

The post Day of Mourning: Psychological health and safety is a workplace crisis we can’t ignore appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

The collapse was due to a failure in the building structure, which did not meet safety codes and expanded without a permit. The day before the collapse, workers observed large cracks in the walls and pillars of the building. Despite warnings and evidence of structural failure, workers were pressured, threatened with wage cuts, or forced by management to enter the building. 

The search for survivors lasted for 19 days with a confirmed death toll of 1,134 and 2,500 injured. It is considered one of the most lethal structural failures in modern history and is the deadliest industrial accident in Bangladesh. 

Three weeks after the collapse, the Bangladesh Accord for Building and Fire Safety was created by more than 200 global brands and trade unions to ensure safety in Bangladesh’s garment industry through mandatory, independent inspections, repairs of more than 1,500 factories. 

In 2021, the agreement expanded to cover Pakistan with the formation of the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry, a legally binding agreement on building and fire safety between 140 brands, South Asian garment unions, and the global trade union federations IndustriALL and UNI Global Union. 

Workers and unions are supporting the renewal of the global accord to 2029 and are calling to expand its reach further to include garment workers in the MENA region, a rapidly growing manufacturing hub. Garment workers in the MENA region experience violations including wage theft, gender-based violence, unsafe working conditions, and restricted freedom of association. 

Workers are also calling to expand the Accord’s coverage beyond the garment sector to include furniture and informal sectors. 

Thirteen years after Rana Plaza, health and safety conditions in Bangladesh factories remain a top concern, as evidenced by the devastating fire on April 4 at a gas lighter factory near Dhaka that killed 5 workers. 

In November 2025, Bangladesh became the first Asian country to ratify all 11 ILO fundamental instruments. Workers and unions are calling for the implementation of these standards, in particular the core conventions on health and safety C187, C155, as well as C121, the Employment and Injury Benefits Convention and C190, the Violence and Harassment Convention. 

Trade unions are also waiting to see if anticipated labour reform will address and improve issues of inspections, minimum wages, freedom of association and the registration of trade unions. 

Canada’s unions mark this sad anniversary with the commitment to continue working to improve worker rights and to call on the government of Canada to create mandatory due diligence legislation to ensure Canadian companies uphold worker rights in their supply chains. 

We stand in solidarity with Bangladesh workers and trade unions in marking this solemn day.

The post Rana Plaza: 13 years on—remembering the workers, renewing the fight for safety  appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Workers need immediate, tangible, practical solutions that protect their jobs and make their lives more affordable.

We are in a jobs crisis, losing private sector jobs to the Trump trade war and public sector jobs to government cuts. We agreed that the NDP must fight for jobs in every sector of the economy. The party of workers must be the party of good jobs.

We met at Salisbury House in Elmwood-Transcona, a working-class riding the NDP lost to the Conservatives last year. We talked about what it will take to rebuild trust with communities like this. It was a great discussion, and I look forward to seeing him in action.

The post Statement from CLC President, Bea Bruske, on new NDP leader Avi Lewis appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

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:
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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.

However, the plan does not yet reflect the forward-looking vision required by legislation. As a vision achieved through genuine collaboration and meaningful engagement, it’s imperative for the government to provide greater clarity on how it intends to implement the priorities outlined, and on how it plans to work with the Council.

In particular, the Council welcomes further detail on how the government plans to support the creation and protection of sustainable jobs across Canada, how workers and their communities will be supported as the economy continues to change, and what substantive role the Council will play in advancing this work going forward.

For this effort to succeed, the Council and Canadian stakeholders must have an active and ongoing role in both implementation of the plan and in ensuring that workers’ concerns are fully addressed.

The Council is proud of its first annual report and the 32 recommendations it contains. Those recommendations were shaped directly by workers, their families and their communities affected by the transition, including workers at CAMI plant, whom the Council met with on the day the plant closed. We were disappointed not to see those recommendations reflected in the current plan. Workers showed up. The Council showed up. We encourage the government to do the same.

We will continue to advocate for the implementation of those recommendations, but advocacy without a genuine seat at the table has its limits. Ongoing engagement with the Council and meaningful social dialogue must be central to the development and implementation of Canada’s sustainable jobs plan. This means policies that drive economic growth, create demand for sustainable jobs, protect workers and communities through decarbonization and economic transformation, and support workers through accredited upskilling and reskilling, underpinned by strong social protections and an unwavering focus on good quality, skilled jobs.

The Council will continue its work on the development of recommendations and their implementation into an ambitious and effective sustainable jobs plan.

About the Sustainable Jobs Partnership Council

The Sustainable Jobs Partnership Council is an advisory body to the federal government established to consult with Canadians and provide guidance on the creation and protection of sustainable jobs across Canada as the economy transitions.

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To arrange an interview, please contact:

Michelle Llambias Meunier
Co-Chair
asdesroches@cpq.qc.ca

Lionel Railton
Co-Chair
lionel.railton@icloud.com

CLC Media Relations
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613-526-7426

The post Sustainable Jobs Partnership Council Responds to Canada’s 2026 – 2030 Sustainable Jobs Action Plan appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

By Siobhán Vipond, Executive Vice-President, Canadian Labour Congress and Mitzie Hunter, President and CEO, Canadian Women’s Foundation 

With global trade in turmoil and economic instability reshaping the world, the Carney government has promised strategic support for key sectors to strengthen Canada’s economy. Without bold, sustained investment in the care economy, those efforts will fall short. 

The inclusion of the care economy in the recently announced Workforce Alliances is a step forward. Still, past decisions like the lapse of the Sectoral Table on the Care Economy—on which we had been tapped to serve—gaps in the latest federal budget, and allowing progress toward national $10-a-day child care to stall, raise serious concerns. 

Any funding directed toward the care economy must be recognized and treated as what it is: an investment in a powerful economic engine, and a foundation that supports every other strategic sector. 

Care work, performed primarily by women, and disproportionately by Indigenous, racialized, immigrant, and migrant women, is what allows the rest of our economy to function and thrive. Without child care, parents can’t work. Without long-term care and home care, families are pushed out of the workforce. Without nurses, teachers, personal support workers, and early childhood educators and assistants, there is no productivity, no innovation, and no economic growth. 

That is why Canada needs a comprehensive federal strategy to support and invest in the care economy.

Paid care jobs generate at least 13% of Canada’s GDP and account for 22% of all jobs. Unpaid care work, such as caring for children, aging parents, or people with disabilities, is worth up to $860 billion, or roughly 37% of Canada’s GDP. That is more than the combined contribution of manufacturing, wholesale, and retail. 

As Canada’s population ages and care needs grow, the care economy is projected to become one of the country’s largest drivers of economic growth and job creation. 

Investments in care deliver real economic gains. Studies show that Québec’s child care system, the most supportive in Canada, generates $1.75 in provincial and federal tax revenue for every dollar invested. That is clear proof of a successful public program.   

Prime Minister Carney has spoken about strengthening Canada’s economy through investment. An effective strategy must recognize that people are our most important asset. That means universal access to affordable, high-quality public and not-for-profit care services so people can work, learn, and live in dignity. It means good jobs with safe working conditions. And it means recognizing care workers—paid and unpaid—as essential to Canada’s economic resilience. 

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, care workers were hailed as heroes while enduring burnout, chronic understaffing, and the deadly consequences of years of austerity and privatization. Many left the sector. Some became seriously ill. Some lost their lives. We cannot forget these consequences, nor can we move forward without addressing their root causes. 

Six years later, demand for care continues to rise, while workforce shortages deepen. Women continue to bear the burden, scaling back paid work, turning down promotions, or leaving the workforce altogether to fill gaps in child care, elder care, and disability supports. 

Now is the time for ambitious, nation-building conversations about the care economy as a foundation for how Canada can weather the multiple economic crises at our doorstep, including the uncertainty created by a rapidly shifting global economic order. 

Canada’s unions and women’s rights organizations are ready and willing to partner with this government to strengthen Canada’s economic resilience and independence through a visionary, world-class care investment strategy. 

To arrive there, Canada needs a Care Economy Commission: a coordinated, cross-sector initiative mandated to develop concrete recommendations to grow the care economy sustainably, ensure decent and dignified jobs with livable wages across all care sectors, strengthen protections and fairness for caregivers, and guarantee access to care for everyone in Canada. 

If this government truly intends to fortify Canada’s economic sovereignty, it must begin where real economic strength starts: with care. 

Women’s economic justice and Canada’s economic security—two sides of the same coin—depend on it. 

The post The Care Economy Is Canada’s Untapped Economic Superpower appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

 The CLC is deeply concerned by and strongly condemns the escalating cycle of violence launched by the United States and Israel against Iran and by Iran’s retaliatory strikes across the region. Continued hostilities will only deepen instability and insecurity across the Middle East and will not bring peace or democracy to the region.

The actions taken by the United States and Israel reflect a frightening and reckless pattern of relying on unilateral military force and coercive measures to exert political influence – a pattern we have seen in places such as Venezuela and Ukraine. Our position is clear: the United States and Israel are violating international law by committing the crime of aggression against a sovereign state. The UN Charter explicitly prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. International law must be respected.

Regime change cannot be imposed by force, and the people of Iran have the right to determine their own future, free from external aggression and internal repression. The right to self-determination is universal.

We welcome Prime Minister Carney’s clarification of his position regarding the US and Israel’s aggression against Iran and support his call for a “rapid de-escalation of hostilities” in the region. Canada must stand firmly on the side of international law, diplomacy, and respect for the sovereignty of nations. We call for an urgent return to diplomacy and peaceful negotiations in the Middle East, including:

• An immediate ceasefire and full de-escalation by all parties;

• Strict respect for international law and the UN Charter;
• A renewed commitment to nuclear disarmament and regional security arrangements based on dialogue; and
• Full respect for freedom of expression, freedom of association, and democratic rights across the region.

In times of war and uncertainty, the labour movement’s role is clear: to stand with working people, to defend international solidarity, and to insist that peace, justice, and democracy cannot be built through violence.

The post Statement from Bea Bruske: Canada’s unions call for de-escalation and diplomacy in Iran appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

The U.S. declaration of Cuba as an “Unusual and Extraordinary Threat to the Security of the U.S.” and the imposition of a fuel blockade are bullying tactics that violate the UN Charter and the rights of Cuba to national sovereignty and self-determination.

Victim of the decades-long economic sanctions by the United States, Cuba now faces extensive hardship under Trump’s fuel blockade. Prior to the U.S. takeover, Venezuela provided a significant portion of Cuba’s fuel needs. That source has been cut off, and the U.S. further threatens to sanction any country that provides fuel to Cuba. The consequences are severe. The country’s health and hospitals, electricity generation, sanitation and water systems, transportation, and food production and distribution are all impacted.

“Trump’s action to impose collective punishment against the people of Cuba is cruel and inhumane and a violation of basic human decency,” says CLC President Bea Bruske.

The CLC calls on the Government of Canada to stand with Cuba and defend the Cuban people’s rights to sovereignty and self-determination.

We call on the Government of Canada to vigorously denounce U.S. aggression and defend the principles of international law. The U.S. must remove the fuel blockade and end the economic embargo against Cuba.

We further demand that the Government of Canada act swiftly to provide immediate humanitarian aid to the people of Cuba.

The CLC is a member of the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas, please see their statement, Urgent Solidarity with the Cuban People.

The post Solidarity with Cuba 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.

Public country-by-country reporting would require large multinational corporations to publicly disclose where they generate profits, where they employ workers, and how much tax they pay, using data companies already submit privately to tax authorities.

Despite collecting this information, Canada keeps it out of public view, unlike in the European Union and Australia. As a result, $22–25 billion in corporate profits are shifted out of Canada every year with little scrutiny, weakening workers’ bargaining power and draining revenue needed for public services and infrastructure.

WHAT:             Comment on unions’ demands for greater corporate tax transparency

WHEN:             By arrangement

WHO:               DT Cochrane, senior economist at the Canadian Labour Congress 

QUOTE:

“We were told cutting corporate taxes would lead to more investment and better jobs. Instead, corporations shifted profits into tax havens and paid out shareholders, while working families were left behind. Public country-by-country reporting would shed light on how corporations avoid taxes. The data already exists, other countries have acted, and it’s a no-brainer for Canada to follow suit.” —DT Cochrane

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To arrange an interview with DT Cochrane, please contact:  
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613-526-7426

The post Unions Call for Corporate Tax Transparency as Billions Shift Offshore appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

A 2020 report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights noted prevalent discrimination in Canada’s policies and laws related to hazardous substances and wastes, stating: “there exists a pattern in Canada where marginalized groups, and Indigenous peoples in particular, find themselves on the wrong side of a toxic divide, subject to conditions that would not be acceptable elsewhere in Canada.” This pattern is called environmental racism, and it has a long history in Canada.

Residents of African Nova Scotian communities like Africville, Shelburne, and Lincolnville have been subjected to it – exposed to sewage systems, landfills, toxic waste, and other pollutants placed in their communities.

This is not just a part of history. Environmental racism springs from deep and ongoing structural inequities that have left communities with few resources and protections over many generations. Today, Black workers and communities continue to live with the consequences of economic and social policy decisions rooted in systemic racism that have resulted in their greater exposure to environmental hazards.

Policy decisions often disregard the long-term environmental, social, and economic costs shouldered by the communities most impacted by these decisions. For Black, Indigenous, racialized, and marginalized communities, the outcome has been exposure to higher rates of pollution and contamination, causing great harm and reducing life expectancy. These communities are paying a high price for unjust policies impacting access to employment, income, housing, and health care.

“Climate change only deepens the injustices of environmental racism, and while all workers are increasingly dealing with its effects, not all of us are feeling it equally. Black workers are also contending with longstanding structural inequities, including discrimination and anti-Black racism and the income inequality that stems from these. This causes Black workers to be more vulnerable to the climate crisis on all fronts – both on the job and at home,” said Larry Rousseau, CLC Executive Vice-President.

With the development of its first-ever National Strategy on Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice, the federal government has an historic opportunity to make lasting change by ensuring meaningful consultation with Black workers and communities, as well as with Indigenous and racialized workers and communities; allocating sufficient funding for community-led solutions and investing to protect and create good, sustainable union jobs by aligning solutions with strong occupational health and safety protections; responding to urgent needs while also addressing systemic environmental racism; and collecting and using disaggregated race-based data to develop good policy that effectively addresses risks and structural inequalities. 

Black workers’ survival and well-being depend on equitable access to good, safe jobs, as well as government action to address the root causes of income inequality and the climate crisis. Join our calls and send a letter today to the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Nature and urge government to take swift action to develop and table the National Strategy and combat environmental racism faced by Black workers and communities.

And sign up to learn about, receive updates and get involved in our Future That Works campaign, a worker-centred campaign for a sustainable, equitable and climate-resilient future!

The post Black History Month: Unions demand action on environmental racism appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Canadian Labour Congress President Bea Bruske was joined by leaders from several of Canada’s largest manufacturing and building trades unions representing workers whose jobs, communities, and futures depend directly on trade and industrial policy decisions.

With renewed U.S. tariff threats and growing trade instability, unions warned the federal government against repeating the mistakes of the past: trading away domestic production, good union jobs, and industrial capacity in pursuit of an agreement at any cost.

“Any deal that undermines Canadian jobs or weakens Canada’s ability to build its own economy would be worse than no deal at all,” said Bruske. “The United States has increasingly abandoned the rules-based trading system, using trade pressure to weaken workers, destabilize supply chains, and advantage corporations. Canada must respond from a position of strength, not concession, and refuse to sacrifice workers to appease U.S. demands.”

The CLC is urging the federal government to remain laser-focused on a workers-first trade policy that preserves and expands Canadian jobs, strengthens domestic industry, and regulatory space to invest in domestic manufacturing, supply-chain resilience, and future industries. Canada continues to bleed production and jobs due to U.S. sectoral tariffs on auto, softwood lumber, and other industries, with widening impacts on communities and local economies. The government must urgently work to have these tariffs removed.

At the negotiating table, Canada must defend its right to pursue active industrial policy, enforce strong labour protections, and expand domestic value-added production. Trade rules must not be used to undermine workers’ rights, public services, industrial development, or fair wages.

Unions also pressed for a strong, enforceable labour chapter in any renewed agreement, including expanded use of the Rapid Response Mechanism to hold employers accountable for labour rights violations across North America.

The message from labour was unified and unequivocal: the CUSMA review must strengthen Canadian industries and working-class communities, not hollow them out. The government must engage with unions and bring them into the trade negotiations; unions know their industries better than anyone else. Workers do not want the government trading away their jobs, livelihoods, or economic future just to renew a flawed deal.

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For media inquiries, please contact:   
CLC Media Relations  
media@clcctc.ca   

The post Workers Must Come First in CUSMA — No Trade Deal at the Expense of Jobs, Industry, or Public Services appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

In our view, the CORE’s final report on our complaint reflects an approach that undermines this would-be watchdog’s mandate to such a degree, it is difficult to conceive of any human rights abuse it would deem to have jurisdiction to investigate. This is why the USW and the CLC sought a judicial review of this decision.

On Oct. 6, 2025, the federal court dismissed our application for judicial review of the CORE’s final report, ruling that the ombudsperson’s findings are advisory in nature and therefore not justiciable. In his determination, the Honourable Justice Gleason wrote “[…] the CORE has no authority to compel participation in a review or to impose consequences that will impact upon any individual, organization, or community. The CORE is essentially an advisor […]”

Our overall experience with this complaint, including the result of the judicial review, has exposed the ineffectiveness of this office and further strengthens our position that the office of the CORE desperately needs genuine independence and legal powers to fulfil its mandate. Ongoing failure to act in this regard will continue to exhibit the limited intentions of the government to ensure real corporate accountability for Canadian companies operating abroad.

As the Government of Canada considers its financial priorities, we will remind it of the commitment made to Canadians when the creation of the CORE was first announced in 2018. The CORE is a critical component of the government’s commitment to responsible business conduct and to human rights as it is Canada’s only non-judicial mechanism that independently investigates complaints of human rights abuses related to the activity of Canadian companies operating overseas and reports publicly on its findings.

Many Canadian civil society groups called for an ombudsperson office in reaction to the weak grievance mechanism under the National Contact Point (NCP) to handle specific instances where companies may have failed to comply with the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprise and the UN Guiding Principles. The process under the NCP is voluntary and non-binding, which highlighted the need for an independent CORE with the power to compel evidence.

With no ombudsperson in place since May 2025, we are urging the government to honour its commitment to Canadians, to human rights and to those affected by the operations of Canadian companies overseas to ensure the CORE soon will be staffed with a new ombudsperson so that it can continue to do its vital work. Secondly, the CORE needs to be empowered with the independence and essential powers needed to effectively investigate allegations of abuse by Canadian corporations and to demand accountability.

The post Result of judicial review further strengthens the need for an empowered CORE to ensure corporate accountability of Canadian companies appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Bea Bruske, together with Veronica Nilsson, General Secretary of the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD, intervened in the virtual Labour and Employment Ministerial Meeting, where both called for greater commitments from the G7 to a labour and employment agenda, including the adoption of concrete and measurable targets.

“G7 Labour and Employment Ministers must redouble their commitment and efforts to ensure respect for labour rights and promote decent work for everyone by following up on previous G7 commitments, specifically through robust engagement in the EWG and high-level political stewardship in the context of the LEMM,” said President Bruske to the G7 labour ministers at the virtual LEMM on December 3.

France will assume the G7 presidency in 2026, and the CLC will continue to work with L7 counterparts in calling for the centrality of labour issues to G7 priorities.

See the Statement: L7 demands G7 restore labour agenda amid concerns over future of employment track

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This is why we, alongside civil liberties organizations, oppose the current version of Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act.  

The version of the Bill being debated in the House of Commons has the potential to infringe on our hard fought-for rights of freedom of expression and freedom of association with little to no oversight. 

Parliament should not pass this Bill without considerable amendment. As drafted, the Bill threatens labour rights, fundamental freedoms, the right to protest, and public accountability. 

With Bill C-9, the federal government proposes to create three new offenses: a hate crime offense, an offense of willfully promoting hatred against an identifiable group, and an intimidation offense.  

Canada already has criminal offences in place to combat hate like mischief, intimidation, and harassment. Police currently have the “ancillary powers” to create exclusion zones for protests, which has the potential to limit freedom of expression and our right to peaceful protest. Three Canadian cities (Toronto, Vaughn, and Ottawa) have created bubble zone bylaws, aimed to protect identifiable groups from hate and harassment when accessing health care (abortion clinics), and attending school and places of worship.  

More mirroring legislation and additional powers given to law enforcement is not necessary. 

We need to protect the fundamental rights that allow Canadians to participate fully in our society and to voice dissent without fear. In today’s political climate, defending these core freedoms is more important than ever. 

This legislation comes at a moment when we are witnessing alarming rights violations in the United States. The National Guard is being deployed to cities to target and deport immigrants under the guise of combating crime. The U.S. Department of Justice and ICE have arrested, charged, and prosecuted protesters for speaking out against immigration raids and for participating in Palestinian solidarity demonstrations. The Trump administration continues to single out vulnerable communities — including trans people and immigrants — while actively eroding core First Amendment rights. 

We cannot allow fundamental rights to be weakened or undermined in Canada. We must ensure that every person here can participate fully in society and speak out without fear. 

We have already witnessed these trends in American governance creep across the border. Since Trump’s inauguration, we have experienced a significant and frightening tariff war, pressure to concede to US demands, and a push to increase border security and crack down on migrants and refugees. 

That’s why we have serious concerns about Bill C-9. Without amendment, it will undermine core democratic rights and expand state powers in ways that put workers and marginalized communities at risk. 

Bill C-9 makes it easier for the state to prosecute people by expanding discretionary police powers and removing the requirement for the Attorney General’s consent. Without amendment, it will lower the bar for criminal charges and give law enforcement wide authority with little oversight. 

This opens the door to the criminalization of peaceful protest and collective action. Without amendment, it will disproportionately impact Indigenous, Black, and racialized communities. 

For workers, the threat is clear. The Charter protects the right to strike — yet without amendment, Bill C-9 will erode this right, making certain legal job actions a criminal offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison. This is a direct attack on organized labour and freedom of association. 

The Bill’s broad and vague language compounds these risks. Without amendment, it will grant sweeping powers without accountability, putting free expression, peaceful assembly, and democratic participation in danger. 

We all want to stop hate crimes and keep people safe in their communities. But Bill C-9, without amendment, will not do that. Instead, it will weaken the very freedoms that keep people safe — the right to speak out, to organize, and to participate fully in society.  

We pushed back hard against U.S. tariffs. We must bring that same resolve to opposing legislation that, without amendment, will chip away at our rights here at home. 

The post Protecting Fundamental Rights — Our Concerns with Bill C-9 appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Canada’s unions are marking International Human Rights Day by urging the federal government to ensure that the pursuit of Canada’s economic prosperity does not come at the expense of human rights.

Workers around the world are facing precarity due to ongoing global conflicts, trade wars, artificial intelligence, and climate change. These issues are reshaping labour markets, raising new equity challenges, and worsening existing ones.

Here in Canada, workers are shouldering the greatest pressure from the Carney government’s response to Donald Trump’s escalating trade war. While the government acted quickly on Trump’s demands by boosting spending on border control and military defence, workers and their families continue to face deteriorating public services, widening inequities, and a growing affordability crisis.

The 2025 Federal Budget does take important steps to support workers in sectors directly hit by tariffs and trade disruption, and that progress matters. But millions of Canadians who are struggling right now still need meaningful relief. A truly worker-focused approach would pair trade-related support with bold investments in public and social infrastructure, affordability measures, and policies that strengthen economic security for everyone.

The budget indicated no additional investments to implement Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy or continue the important work of the Federal Anti-Racism Secretariat. Canada’s unions urge the government to ensure ongoing funding for these to address and mitigate the impacts of systemic racism that many workers face.

The Liberals’ election platform promised a review of Carney’s government policies and programs using an intersectional lens to understand the potential impacts of these on Canadians in all their diversity, but no action has been taken.

This is evident in the introduction of regressive legislation such as bills C-2 and C-12, which pose significant threats to freedoms and civil liberties, migrant and refugee rights and the privacy of all Canadians. These Bills are concerning, as they come at a time when Canada seeks to secure and deepen trade relationships with several governments for whom gender equality is decidedly not a priority, and with poor records for respecting human rights and labour rights. Canada must negotiate strong labour chapters in all trade agreements to ensure fair working conditions, enforce labour standards, protect workers’ freedom of association rights and prevent forced labour as Canada works to diversify its trade relationships.

In a time of global uncertainty when workers and their families are facing real pressures and rapid change, Canada needs a government that strengthens our foundations.

A responsible government should be focused on building a stronger, more resilient Canada by protecting the rules-based order, advancing economic and social progress, and ensuring every person can live and work with dignity. That means standing up to bad actors, reinforcing the systems that keep our economy stable, and investing in the people who make this country work.

The post A thriving economy shouldn’t cost us our human rights appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“Despite providing vital, life-changing services to survivors of violence, their families,
and communities across the country, Canada’s GBV sector remains severely
underfunded and faces similar challenges to other women and gender diverse majority
workforces,” said Siobhán Vipond, Executive Vice-President of the CLC.

A groundbreaking new study on the GBV workforce outlined that this workforce is
primarily made up of women (89%) identified workers, with a large proportion (67%)
also identifying as a member of at least one other equity group. Unfortunately, the
systemic devaluation of this work, as well as the consistent and never-ending financial
precarity facing the sector, makes it impossible for far too many GBV workers to sustain
themselves and their families when compensation for these critical jobs fail to keep up
with the rapid increases in cost-of-living post pandemic.

In fact, one in four GBV workers in this study revealed that they experienced
consistent employment insecurity.

“The lack of consistent and reliable funding for the sector is pushing GBV workers to the
margins of an already worsening national affordability crisis facing us all,” adds Vipond.

In addition, GBV work is trauma-exposed work that carries significant occupational
health and safety risks. According to that same study, just over half of respondents
(56.2%) shared they feel emotionally exhausted and/or worn out due to their work, and
50% agreed the vicarious trauma negatively impacts their mental health and personal
life.

Canada’s GBV sector needs core, stable and adequate funding from governments to
protect occupational health, safety, and wellness of workers.

This is why Canada’s unions are calling for our federal government to develop a
workforce strategy for the sector, in collaboration with unions and sector organizations,
to improve wages, working conditions, and retention. This strategy must be part of
broader efforts towards comprehensive, long-term funding to sustain the feminist and
women’s rights organizations that provide life-saving services to survivors across the
country.

“Promises and half-measures are not enough; workers are ready to rise up for justice
for the GBV workforce, and demand that our elected leaders take action to meaningfully
support and sustain the gender-based violence sector,” said Vipond.

Learn more about the state of Canada’s Gender-Based Violence Workforce here.

The post Canada’s unions rise up for justice for gender-based violence (GBV) workforce appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“Our labour movement remains deeply committed to the fight for a barrier-free Canada that is truly accessible for everyone and all abilities. This includes drastically reducing the economic barriers disproportionately faced by persons with disabilities in our country,” said Lily Chang, Secretary-Treasurer of the Canadian Labour Congress.

Currently, more than 1.5 million people with disabilities in Canada are living below the poverty line. Moreover, women with disabilities experience poverty at a higher rate (17.7%) than men with disabilities (15.7%); and people aged 65 and above with disabilities had higher poverty rates (18.8%) than people with disabilities aged 15 to 64 (15.9%).

The employment situation for persons with disabilities is not much better either. About 1/3 of people with disabilities looking for work are shut out of today’s labour force, and the employment outlook is most dire for racialized people with disabilities. Those who are employed report experiencing disproportionately high levels of harassment and violence in the workplace (75%), alongside an hourly wage gap that has widened from $1.91 in 2023 to $2.22 in 2024. This is a weekly wage gap of $115.20, or almost $6,000 per year!

“Disability rights and economic justice for people with disabilities across Canada have always been, and will always unequivocally be, workers’ issues,” said Chang.

Despite the welcome introduction of the Canada Disability Benefit earlier this year, the relatively low benefit amount of only $200 a month, restrictive eligibility criteria, separate application process, and the risk of provincial claw-backs have resulted in a benefit that does little to meaningfully address the enormous socio-economic barriers facing millions of persons with disabilities in this country.   

While the 2025 federal budget included a small $150 top-up and tax exemption, it still falls short of delivering real change for Canadians with disabilities. This is why the CLC will continue to work alongside disability rights and justice advocates across the country in demanding immediate action from our federal government to shape a better benefit that truly lifts people with disabilities out of poverty.

“Canada’s unions are holding this government accountable and demanding they fulfill their promises and human rights obligations to make the eradication of disability poverty a reality in this country,” said Chang.

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This award is named in honour of Carol McGregor, an outstanding disability rights activist, member of NUPGE and the CLC Disability Rights Working Group―and who was much loved by all those who worked with her. Carol passed away in 2006.

In 2025, the award recognizes the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Canada activist Stephannie Leach. 

Stephannie is an inspiring leader in our labour movement who has tirelessly advocated for the rights of workers with disabilities in Alberta and in the Northwest Territories. Stephannie’s leadership in this area spanned both her involvement in her workplace and in her union, UFCW Canada Local 401.

As an employee of Vision Loss Rehabilitation Alberta, and a vision impaired worker herself, Stephannie travelled across the province and in the Northwest Territories to provide education to remote and rural communities about vision loss and accessibility awareness, as well as education about guide dogs and service animals. She also trains people with vision impairment to work with their service animals, to access public transit, and to get around their own homes.

Stephannie serves on her local bargaining committee, and she is the health and safety representative for her union in northern Alberta. Thanks to her successful advocacy efforts, the company agreed to bereavement days for the loss of service animals. 

As a trailblazing advocate, she also took the initiative to translate the collective agreement into braille, the first of its kind at her union!

As a dedicated champion for disability rights and inclusion of people with disabilities in her union, in her workplace, and in her communities, Stephannie perfectly embodies the spirit of this award.  

Congratulations to Stephannie and thank you for your leadership and activism for disability rights and inclusion.

The post Stephannie Leach – Winner of the 2025 Carol McGregor CLC Disability Rights Award appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Gender-based violence and harassment continue to threaten the safety, dignity, and equality of women and gender-diverse workers. The CLC’s own research revealed that gender diverse workers (82%) and women (76%) experience higher rates of harassment and violence at work compared to their colleagues. In addition, a recent report on harassment and violence in Canadian workplaces revealed 843 reported occurrences of third-party (meaning clients, patients, customers, etc.) violence and harassment in 2022, reflecting a whopping 41% increase from 2021.

“These are not just numbers,” said Siobhán Vipond, Executive Vice President of the CLC. “They reflect the alarming, daily reality of workers whose safety and dignity are still at risk. They tell the story of a crisis that demands action, now.”

There are several factors contributing to this increase in third-party violence and harassment. People are facing mounting pressures from a worsening affordability crisis, with scarce resources to address their needs. Staffing shortages and systems stretched too thin may also impact the way people interact with front-line workers, leading to dangerous situations for these workers.

Moreover, in recent years, we have seen some conservative political leaders stoke fear, anger and hate to distract from their lack of solutions. This emboldens third parties to harass workers in public-facing jobs, disproportionately targeting 2SLGBTQI+ workers, Black, racialized, Indigenous workers, and those with disabilities at an alarming rate.

Despite unions sounding the alarm, the federal government has yet to work with provinces, territories, unions and employers to meaningfully implement ILO C-190, the world’s first global treaty to eliminate violence and harassment in the world of work.

“While governments delay, the labour movement is taking action. Across the country, Canada’s unions are leading the fight to end gender-based violence through collective bargaining, education, and political action,” adds Vipond.

While we are proud of the workers and activists who are fighting every day to make workplaces and communities safer, fairer, and more inclusive, unions cannot do it alone.

We are calling on all levels of government to make work safer for everyone by:

• Coordinating a tripartite national strategy to implement ILO C-190 that includes measures to address the specific challenge of growing violence and harassment from third parties; and

• Conducting a national public awareness campaign about third-party violence and harassment as part of Canada’s National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence and the implementation strategy for ILO C190.

“Canada’s unions will continue to rise up, to demand accountability from those in power, and to fight for a future where every worker is safe, respected, and free from violence and harassment,” said Vipond.

Check out the CLC’s research on violence and harassment at work here.

The post Canada’s Unions Rise Up Against Gender-Based Violence appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“Workers across this country want their government to protect their jobs, their country, and their future,” said Bruske. “Appeasing Donald Trump doesn’t work. Every concession we’ve made has been followed by more attacks. It’s time for Canada to negotiate from a position of strength.”

Bruske told MPs that the U.S. economy depends heavily on Canadian inputs—from energy and electricity to potash, lumber, minerals, and aluminum—and urged the federal government not to give up economic sovereignty in the hope of regaining unimpeded access to the U.S. market.

“The American economy can’t function without Canadian workers and Canadian resources,” said Bruske. “America can’t farm without our potash. It can’t keep the lights on without our electricity. It can’t run without our energy or critical minerals. If America wants our potash, it should buy our cars. That is how leverage works.”

Bruske said workers expect the federal government to defend Canada’s interests with a “solid backbone,” and outlined three core principles for Canada’s approach to CUSMA negotiations:

1. A Worker-First Trade Agenda

Bruske called for strong, enforceable labour chapters that protect workers’ rights across North America, including:

• stronger protections for women and migrant workers,
• clear provisions addressing gender-based violence, and
• robust occupational health and safety rules.

“Fair labour rules must be the foundation of any trade agreement,” she said.

2. Protecting Canada’s Policy and Regulatory Space

Bruske emphasized that Canada must not allow trade negotiations to restrict its ability to:

• build domestic manufacturing and industrial capacity,
• increase value-added production,
• tax multinational corporations fairly,
• require companies to maintain jobs in Canada,
• regulate AI,
• meet climate targets, and
• expand essential public services.

“The United States is intent on restricting Canada’s policy space—from climate regulation to taxation. Canada must protect that space, not bargain it away,” said Bruske.

3. Protecting Public Services

Bruske warned against trade provisions that could undermine public health care, child care, housing, transit, energy, or Employment Insurance.

“Public dollars must deliver public good. We cannot build resilience by hollowing out the systems that support families,” she said.

Bruske concluded by urging the federal government to negotiate with clarity and confidence.

“Canadian workers built this country’s prosperity. They expect their government to defend it and to negotiate with strength, clarity, and a solid backbone.”

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“Trans and gender-diverse workers are disproportionately impacted by violence and harassment, both at work and in our communities. Trans Day of Remembrance is a powerful opportunity to channel our grief towards justice by demanding that our federal government take action to end gender-based violence, and make work safer for all,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress.

The CLC’s research reveals that when compared to their colleagues, gender-diverse workers are 82% more likely to experience harassment and violence at work. Additionally, 73% of gender-diverse respondents stated they had experienced sexual harassment and violence in the last two years. 

This is why Canada’s unions are calling for the federal government to conduct a national public awareness campaign as part of Canada’s National Action Plan on Gender Based Violence. This must include a comprehensive and tripartite implementation strategy for ILO C190, the international convention asserting the right of all workers to a world of work free of all forms of gender-based violence. 

“When trans and gender-diverse communities continue to be disproportionately targeted by gender-based violence at alarmingly high levels, including harassment and violence in the world of work, we cannot afford inaction,” said Larry Rousseau, CLC Executive Vice-President.    

Labour’s solidarity in action means we will continue to show up: in our communities, in our workplaces, and in legislatures. We’re re-committing ourselves as trade union activists, allies, and supporters in the fight for justice for trans and gender diverse peoples towards an equitable and inclusive vision for our society. 

“From coast to coast to coast, workers are united against hate. With provincial governments—like Danielle Smith’s UCP in Alberta—attacking trans and gender-diverse people any chance they get, we must continue to take action against transphobia,” said Rousseau. “We strongly condemn the UCP government’s use of the notwithstanding clause to force through harmful bills that violate the rights of trans youth and their families. Our solidarity will never waver; when it comes to justice in the fight against transphobic hate, violence and gender-based violence in all its forms, we will win.”

—

Do you have a story to share on harassment and violence at work? Add your voice now, and help make work safer for all workers in Canada.

The post Canada’s unions stand in solidarity for Trans Day of Remembrance appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Attacks on the human rights of any community are deplorable, despicable actions, and the timing to table Bill 9, which uses the notwithstanding clause to restrict the rights of trans and gender diverse people across the province to access gender affirming care, is especially cruel to introduce in the middle of the Trans Week of Awareness 2025.

Canada’s unions recognize these tactics that undermine our fundamental human rights as coming from the same toolbox of strategies that, not even a month ago, attacked the rights of striking teachers in that province through the introduction of back-to-work legislation.

Shame.

Shame on Danielle Smith and her conservative government for blocking an already vulnerable community of Albertans from the basic set of rights afforded to all Canadians under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Canada’s unions are all too familiar with dirty tricks like Bill 9 from bad bosses like Danielle Smith’s government, who would rather scapegoat human rights than be accountable for the impacts of the hate-driven, anti-access and anti-care policies her government is continuously pushing through without a care to the real, human and moral costs of these attacks.

We must call it out for what it is: Bill 9 is an abhorrent use of legislation to evade accountability and undermine the human rights and dignity of trans and gender diverse Albertans. 

Make no mistake, an attack on rights of any kind will solicit a response and action from Canada’s labour movement. Unions across Canada are putting Danielle Smith on notice:

We will not stand idly by as an agenda of institutionalized transphobic violence and hate barrels forward, on the eve of the Trans Day of Remembrance no less. We recognize this political agenda for what it is: a shameful, purposeful exercise to undermine our collective fundamental rights and freedoms, including workers’ rights.

Our solidarity runs deep, and together as part of a broader movement to defend human rights and workers’ rights, from coast to coast to coast, we will band together, and we will win.

In solidarity,

Bea

Learn more about the implications of Alberta’s Bill 9 from our allies at EGALE Canada here: https://egale.ca/egale-in-action/alberta-bill9-nov18/?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwOKxIRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAacOPjyqXyr5KZTEEZt-Tp4adzpO322HzMGoiMI2QRdWSSxVEVIiJbYKZCZNNQ_aem_oS7Pd9IQnJM_2KDfxF-jqQ

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“When it comes to defending Canadian jobs, this government needs to get its elbows back up. Trump’s tariffs and trade threats are putting Canadian workers on the line, and sitting on the sidelines won’t cut it. We need generational investments in housing and public infrastructure—built by union labour, using Canadian-made materials—to secure good jobs and keep prosperity here at home,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress.

“You can’t create jobs by cutting thousands of them,” said Bruske. “You can’t grow the economy by shrinking public services. Workers need a budget that invests in people and public infrastructure.”

“With no majority in Parliament, this budget is not a done deal—and Canadians don’t need an election,” said Bruske, “Canada’s unions are calling on the Liberal government to work with other parties to amend the budget to deliver the supports, investments, and safeguards workers need to withstand U.S. tariffs, protect Canadian jobs, and build lasting economic security. This is the moment for Parliament to stand up for working people.”

There are measures worth building on in the Budget, including billions in home building and infrastructure funding, the doubling of the Union Training and Innovation Program and the new $1,100 tax credit for personal support workers. These are exactly the kinds of investments working people need: ones that strengthen skills, raise wages, and improve care.

But to truly protect workers and our economy, we need more of that—and fewer cuts.

Parliament must come together to strengthen this budget: protect public services, strengthen health care, modernize Employment Insurance, ensure labour standards in our trade, close corporate tax loopholes, and make the generational investments in housing, infrastructure, and domestic production Canada needs to secure our economic future. Working people are ready to build that future.

“Workers have shown time and again that when Canada needs rebuilding, they step up,” said Bruske. “It’s time for our government to match that determination.”

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“Workers are doing their part to hold this country together, our elbows are up, but they’re being squeezed from every direction,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “This budget must invest in people and infrastructure”.

Bruske warned that balancing the books on the backs of working people would only deepen inequality and stall economic recovery.

“Any move to shore up Canada’s finances must be done fairly,” she said. “That means asking those who’ve made record profits and amassed the most wealth to pay their share—not cutting services or putting the squeeze on workers.”

Investing in people and communities

Canada’s unions are urging the federal government to launch a new wave of public investment focused on shovel-ready municipal and provincial projects—including housing, schools, transportation, public health, and child care.

“These investments must come with strings attached,” said Bruske. “They must create good union jobs, be community supporting, use Canadian procurement, and guarantee that the jobs stay in Canada for the long term.”

Budget 2025 should also build the next generation of public infrastructure including housing, transit and energy, expand early learning and child care, and make major investments in public health care, including pharmacare and safe long-term care.

“Blank cheques to corporations won’t solve the crises we face,” added Bruske. “Public dollars must deliver public good—good jobs, good wages, and the services working families rely on.”

Protecting jobs and preparing for the future

Canada’s unions are calling for a comprehensive job creation plan built around public infrastructure and a funded net-zero industrial strategy developed with unions. The plan should invest in clean energy, manufacturing, and retrofit programs while ensuring workers in high-emitting sectors can transition to new, secure, unionized jobs with fair wages and benefits.

To help workers through economic shocks, the government must also modernize Employment Insurance—restoring federal contributions, improving benefits, and lowering eligibility requirements—so that no worker falls through the cracks in the next downturn.

Fair taxation and fiscal responsibility

Bruske emphasized that real fiscal responsibility means ensuring everyone pays their fair share.

“Workers shouldn’t be asked to carry the burden of recovery while corporations hoard record profits,” she said.

Canada’s unions are calling for tax fairness measures, including:

• Public country-by-country reporting for multinationals;
• Maintaining the Digital Services Tax;
• Increasing the capital gains inclusion rate;
• Introducing wealth and windfall profit taxes; and
• Investing in the Canada Revenue Agency to close loopholes and enforce compliance.

“When corporations and the wealthy pay what they owe,” said Bruske, “Canada can invest in housing, health care, and good jobs for everyone.”

Housing for everyone

The rising cost of homes and rents is taking a toll on workers whose wages are not keeping up. Workers want their government to make serious efforts to combat financial speculation in housing, starting with taxing house-flipping and vacant properties to capture windfall real estate gains that go to the wealthiest Canadians. 

Canada’s unions are calling on the government to put in place ambitious and direct funding for the construction of new, non-market, affordable public housing, including social housing and co-ops for all, including Indigenous peoples, survivors of domestic violence, and people living with disabilities and particularly for marginalized groups.

Putting workers first

“Workers built this country, and workers will build the future,” said Bruske. “Budget 2025 must put people before profits—by investing in the infrastructure, jobs, and public services that make life more affordable and secure for everyone in Canada.”

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Doubling the Union Training and Innovation Program is a smart investment in Canada’s future. Unions deliver the most comprehensive, advanced, and high-quality training in the country and provide direct pathways to good union jobs. With this expansion, we can train the skilled workers Canada urgently needs to meet our infrastructure, housing, and clean-energy goals.

The new Hero Tax Credit for personal support workers will deliver long-overdue relief to some of the lowest-paid yet most essential workers in our health-care system. These workers care for people through the hardest years of our lives, and they deserve real recognition and respect.

We also welcome the consultation on restricting non-compete clauses, and would like to see greater steps toward fairness in the workplace, including strengthening workers’ ability to form unions, raise wages, and strengthen the quality of their jobs.

Finally, the $97-million fund for faster foreign credential recognition — especially in health care and construction — is a practical and positive measure that will help ensure newcomers can put their skills to work sooner.

These measures signal a shift toward putting workers at the heart of Canada’s economic strategy. Canada’s unions will work with the government to ensure we can build on this momentum by investing in good union jobs, expanding public services, and ensuring every worker shares in the prosperity they help create.

The post Bruske on pre-budget measures: When government listens to workers, we see progress appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

OTTAWA – Prime Minister Carney is right to say that Canada faces uncertainty, but for many workers, that uncertainty is now a reality.

Across the country, workers are being squeezed by an affordability and housing crisis, job losses tied to the ongoing trade war with the United States, and growing anxiety about what AI and automation will mean for their livelihoods. These are not abstract challenges; they’re daily realities for families trying to keep food on the table, pay rent, and build a better life.

The Prime Minister spoke today about “spending less and investing more.” Canada’s unions agree that investment is key — but workers cannot be asked to pay the price through cuts to the public services and supports their families rely on. You don’t build resilience by hollowing out the very systems that help people weather hard times.

If the government is looking for fiscal room, it should start with those who can afford it — the corporations and CEOs who have seen record profits while workers struggle to get ahead. Over the last several years, corporate profit margins have soared, while wage growth has barely kept pace with inflation. Closing tax loopholes, tackling corporate concentration, and ensuring profitable companies pay their fair share are far better choices than cutting the services that workers and their families rely on and keep communities strong and resilient.

Canada’s unions also urge the government to make bold investments that secure good jobs and strengthen our economic foundations — by rebuilding domestic manufacturing, supporting public infrastructure, and developing a climate strategy that delivers for workers as well as the planet. That includes retraining and upskilling programs, industrial policy that rewards employers who create union jobs, and a Just Transition plan that leaves no worker or community behind.

We welcome any effort to invest in sustainable growth and a modern industrial strategy that builds Canadian capacity and strengthens our communities. But those investments must include workers — at the table, not on the sidelines — to ensure they create good, union jobs and secure futures in every region of this country.

Canada’s unions are ready to work with the government to grow our economy through fairness — not austerity. Together, we can build a Canada that works for working people.

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The workers-first forum brought leadership candidates Avi Lewis, Heather McPherson, Rob Ashton, Tanille Johnston, and Tony McQuail together to engage directly with worker concerns. Moderated by CLC President Bea Bruske, the event gathered more than 150 union members, NDP supporters, and labour leaders in person – and thousands more online.

“This leadership race is about building a stronger NDP, one grounded in the needs of working people and ready to deliver for families across the country,” said Bea Bruske.

As Canadians grapple with high costs, increasingly precarious jobs, and Trump’s trade war, unions see the leadership race as a key opportunity to renew the party’s connection to the workers it was founded to serve.

“What we heard from the candidates was encouraging; a real commitment to put workers first,” Bruske added. “The message is clear: workers will have a strong voice in Canada’s political future.”

Canada’s unions are committed to strengthening the party and ensuring workers continue to lead the way forward. Yesterday’s forum sets the tone for the leadership race ahead and affirms that the NDP’s future is tied to its roots in the labour movement. 

The Canadian Labour Congress is the largest labour organization in Canada, representing over 3 million workers through affiliated unions, federations of labour, and labour councils across the country.

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The post Canada’s unions put workers at the heart of NDP leadership race appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

The forum will bring together Avi Lewis, Heather McPherson, Rob Ashton, Tanille Johnston, and Tony McQuail for a series of moderated discussions focused on their vision and leadership approach for Canada’s NDP.

Moderated by CLC President Bea Bruske, each candidate will have the opportunity to speak for ten minutes, offering voters and workers an opportunity to hear, directly and in detail, how the next NDP leader plans to deliver real results for working people.

“Workers built this party, and Canada’s unions are here to make sure it stays focused on delivering for them. This forum is about putting working people at the heart of the leadership conversation.” – Bea Bruske, CLC President

WHAT:
Worker-First Forum with NDP Leadership Candidates

WHEN:         
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 – 6:00 to 7:00 PM ET (Doors open: 5:30 PM ET)

LIVESTREAM UPDATE:
Due to significant public interest, with more than 1,500 registrants, the event will now be livestreamed on YouTube rather than Zoom. *Please note the page will only be live tomorrow right before the event. Feel free to share this new livestream information widely.
– French livestream: noustravaillonsensemble.ca/diffusion-en-direct
– English livestream: workerstogether.ca/livestream

MEDIA RSVP:
If you would like to attend in person, please send an email to media@clcctc.ca with your full name and outlet affiliation.

WHO:

Moderator
Bea Bruske – President, Canadian Labour Congress

NDP Leadership Candidates
Avi Lewis – Journalist, Activist, Associate Professor
Heather McPherson – NDP MP
Rob Ashton – President, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada (ILWU)
Tanille Johnston – Director of Community Programs with the First Nations Health Authority, City Councillor in Campbell River.
Tony McQuail – Huron County organic farmer

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The post Workers first: The CLC hosts a forum with NDP leadership candidates appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Postal services in Canada are under attack, and postal workers are bearing the brunt of decades of bad business decisions made by wealthy executives.  While executives collect massive bonuses, workers are being squeezed. Our communities need reliable, door-to-door delivery that puts service before profit.

Canada Post is a public service, not a for-profit company—and the workers delivering that service deserve fair contracts, decent wages, job security, and safe working conditions.

This rally will serve as a powerful reminder that workers’ strength comes from our unity. This is more than a protest: it’s a fight for the future of good jobs and a strong public postal service in Canada. Together, we will send a clear message to MPs and decision-makers that postal workers deserve better.

WHAT:            Rally in support of the Canadian Postal Service and CUPW members

WHO:              Siobhán Vipond & Larry Rousseau, CLC Executive Vice-Presidents

WHERE:         Parliament Hill, Ottawa

WHEN:           Wednesday, October 1, 11:00 am

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The post Postal workers under attack: labour leaders join Ottawa rally for public postal service appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

At a press conference this morning, CLC President Bea Bruske and Senior Economist DT Cochrane warned that Canada’s economy is heading in the wrong direction, and that working people are already paying the price.

“The Bank of Canada’s decision today to cut interest rates is a recognition of the pressure families are under, but the move alone won’t fix Canada’s economic challenges,” said Bruske. “Lower rates might provide some relief, but without serious public investment in housing, health care, jobs, and training, Canadians will be left treading water while the government pushes ahead with cuts.”

Since 2022, unemployment has shot up. Close to half a million more are now out of work. Youth unemployment is nearing 15%, and it’s even worse for Black and Arab youth, hitting around 25%. The cost of living keeps rising, and families across the country are feeling the strain.

“Too many people are working hard and still falling behind,” said Cochrane. “Rent, groceries — everything costs more. But instead of building support systems, the government is reaching for the same old austerity playbook that caused so much harm in the past.”

The CLC is calling on the federal government to take a different approach. That means:

• Investing in affordable housing
• Protecting public services like health care, child care, transit, and education
• Fixing Employment Insurance so everyone who pays in can get support when they need it
• Creating good union jobs through smart public investment and stronger labour laws
• Guaranteeing a better future for young people, with access to decent work, training, or education

“Nation-building isn’t just concrete and steel. It’s also about a strong safety net, healthcare, housing, and skills training. The stuff that actually makes people’s lives better,” said Bruske. “That’s what real leadership looks like. Not slashing services while billion-dollar corporations keep raking in profits.”

Cochrane pointed to recent data showing GDP shrinking and business investment dropping fast.

“The private sector is pulling back. That’s exactly when the public sector should step up, not disappear,” he said. “If the government keeps cutting, it’s only going to make things worse.”

The CLC also criticized the lack of a clear economic plan from the Carney government.

“We keep hearing buzzwords like ‘affordable housing’ and ‘growth,’” said Bruske. “But where’s the plan? Where are the jobs? Who is this economy actually for?”

With nearly 10,000 public service jobs on the chopping block and cuts of up to 15% planned across departments, the CLC says workers are being asked to carry the burden again.

“Workers didn’t cause this crisis,” said Bruske. “But we’re ready to be part of the solution. What we need from the Carney government is courage. Not cuts.

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The post As Parliament Returns, Canada’s Unions Say: No More Cuts, Invest in Workers appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

WHAT: Press conference to respond to the Bank of Canada’s rate announcement and the federal
government’s economic approach

WHEN: Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 11:30 AM ET

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

WHO: Bea Bruske, President, Canadian Labour Congress
             DT Cochrane, Senior Economist, Canadian Labour Congress

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The post Canadian Labour Congress Responds to Bank of Canada Rates and Fall Session of Parliament 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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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.

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. 

This year gave us a powerful reminder of that truth. Just hours after Air Canada flight attendants began their strike, Prime Minister Carney tried to crush it by invoking Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code — at the behest of Air Canada’s CEO. This Trump-style attack on workers is not what Canadians expect from their newly elected Prime Minister.  

But CUPE flight attendants knew their rights. They defied the order, forced Air Canada back to the bargaining table, and bargained a deal. The lesson is clear: workers will not and should not be taken for granted. 

This victory comes at a critical moment — because inequality in Canada is beginning to look like it did during the first Gilded Age more than a century ago. Back then, a handful of robber barons hoarded unimaginable wealth while workers endured 12-hour shifts in unsafe factories, living in poverty with little protection and no voice. Governments bent to corporate power, and working people paid the price. 

Today, we see similar patterns. The richest 100 CEOs in Canada now make 243 times more than the average worker. Grocery giants are posting record profits while families cut back on food. Oil and gas companies are pocketing billions while Canadians struggle with heating bills. Banks make excessive profits while workers struggle with high interest rates. And public services — the very tools that make life affordable and fair — are under attack from government austerity. 

The parallels with the Gilded Age are chilling: extreme concentration of wealth, corporations writing the rules, and politicians rigging the system in favour of employers and against workers. 

But history also teaches us how to break this cycle. The antidote to runaway greed has always been the same: unions. In the last Gilded Age, it was workers organizing and building solidarity that won health and safety laws, shorter work hours, weekends, pensions, and the foundation of Canada’s public services. Every gain was won by workers standing together and forcing change. 

Today, the solution is no different. We need more unions. We need to organize harder. We need stronger worker power so that no government dares to trample on our rights again, and no corporation can treat workers as disposable while handing out huge bonuses to their executives. Because when workers join together, we don’t just win for ourselves — we lift entire communities. We strengthen public services. We build fairer economies. We create a more just society. 

This Labour Day, let’s not just look back at past victories. Let’s look forward. Let’s commit to organizing in the face of corporate greed. Let’s commit to growing the labour movement, defending free collective bargaining, and building worker power strong enough to end this new Gilded Age once and for all. 

Happy Labour Day. Workers together, we’re organizing. Together, we’re mobilizing. Together, we’re building the future workers deserve.

The post Happy Labour Day: Workers’ Power Is the Answer to the New Gilded Age appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

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. With the backing of the entire labour movement, CUPE stood its ground, defied the order, and forced the company back to the bargaining table—where a fair deal was reached. The outcome makes one thing clear: Section 107 is no longer a reliable weapon for employers.

By refusing to bow to government interference, CUPE flight attendants exposed Section 107 for what it is: an unconstitutional violation of workers’ Charter-protected right to free and fair collective bargaining. Any employer thinking of leaning on Section 107 in the future should think twice—it’s a crutch that just snapped.

Deals are made where they should be—at the bargaining table. That’s good for workers, good for communities, and good for building lasting relationships between unions and employers. The entire labour movement is grateful to flight attendants for their strength and perseverance in standing firm for these rights.

The last 24 hours have shown that Section 107 is unconstitutional, unenforceable, and corrosive to free collective bargaining. Canada’s unions are calling for its removal from the Canada Labour Code. We urge all parties in Parliament to make this a priority in the upcoming fall session—because protecting workers’ Charter rights should never be optional, and employers must never again be allowed to rely on Section 107 to delay or deny fair bargaining.

The lesson from this strike is undeniable: workers win when they fight, and collective agreements are made through negotiation, not government-imposed edicts. Section 107 has been dealt a blow it shouldn’t recover from—and that’s good news for every worker in Canada.

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The post CUPE flight attendants prove bargaining, not Carney’s Section 107, delivers deals appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Time and time again, he’s targeted our industries, our livelihoods, and the communities that keep this country running. The mere instability caused by his unpredictable attacks has made investment decisions impossible—hurting both workers and our industries.

Let me be clear: Canada does not cave. We do not retreat. And we will not be intimidated.

To our governments:

Appeasement does not work. In response to Trump’s demands, Canada has spent millions to address border issues, we rescinded our digital services tax, and scaled back counter-tariffs. Like a bully, Trump’s only response to Canada’s good-faith efforts is nothing but escalation.

This is a moment for strength. A moment to meet Trump’s aggression with the full force of Canada’s resolve. We need urgent action now:

• Impose counter-tariffs in response to the latest tariff attacks from Trump.
• Introduce export taxes on Canadian energy sold to the U.S.
• Mandate that all national infrastructure projects use Canadian steel, aluminum, and lumber.
• Invest directly in affected workers and communities by enhancing Employment Insurance, expanding Work-Sharing, and providing emergency income supports.
• Launch ambitious, nation-building projects like affordable housing, clean energy, and public transit that create union jobs and build Canadian resilience.

We must stop reacting and start leading. Canada’s workers are ready to stand up for this country. It’s time our governments stood with them, with boldness and with urgency.

To every worker in Canada:

This won’t be easy. There will be disruptions. Some of us will face layoffs. And there will be those who try to divide us.

But Canadian workers are not strangers to hard times. We know how to fight—and we know how to win. So, let’s hold strong. Buy union-made. Support local. Stand with your union. Get involved in your community. Reject division and stand together, shoulder to shoulder. Because when Canadian workers rise together, no one can take us down.

Donald Trump may think he can rattle us. But what he doesn’t understand is that Canadians don’t back down, we rise up. We fight for our jobs, our families, and our future.

The post Statement from Bea Bruske: Trump’s 35% Tariffs Demand a Bold Response appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

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 response is a crime of historic scale. 

In June, Canada’s unions called on your government to take several actions to address the horror of what is unfolding in Gaza. The first of which was recognizing Palestinian statehood. 

On behalf of the Canadian Labour Congress, and the more than three million workers we represent, I want to commend you for your recent announcement that Canada will recognize Palestinian statehood. Recognizing Palestine cannot be a reward at the end of negotiations. It is a precondition to the start of a real peace process. In the face of immense human suffering, it is important to see Canada recommit itself to the principles of international law, human dignity and peace. Thank you. 

Recognition of Palestinian statehood is a critical first step, but it alone will not stop the suffering in Gaza. 

Nearly 22 months into this war, more than 60,000 Palestinian people are dead, including more than 15,000 children. The 2.1 million Palestinians in Gaza face starvation and indiscriminate bombardment. Three million more in the West Bank suffer daily humiliation, violence, and a systemic campaign of land confiscation and settlement expansion. 

Canada must take further steps to build on the recognition of Palestinian statehood to end the suffering in Gaza and bring a peaceful resolution. Canada’s unions outlined these steps in our June Letter. 

Finally, Canada must work to strengthen democracy to deliver peace now. Hamas will not be defeated by Netanyahu. Hamas will be defeated by the Palestinian people if they have hope for a free and peaceful future with decent jobs and social and economic security. 

Palestinians need autonomy. They need rights. They need recognition. Israel rightly demands security guarantees, and that demand must be met. But peace cannot be built on subjugation. 

I also share this open letter from Luc Triangle, the General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), released earlier this week. The ITUC is the global voice of working people and includes both Israel’s Histadrut and the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) amongst its affiliates. The CLC is a member of the ITUC and supports the calls to action in this letter. 

Prime Minister, Canada has an opportunity and a responsibility to be a force for peace. Thank you for your commitment to recognizing Palestinian statehood. There are those who will seek to weaken the growing international consensus that the horror of what is occurring in Gaza must stop. It is important to remain resolute in the face of that pressure. Our commitment to diplomacy, international law, and human rights must guide our actions towards a just and lasting resolution. 

The full letter is available here.

The post Canada’s unions applaud recognition of Palestinian statehood and urge further action to end the crisis in Gaza appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

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 several trade unionists:

• Hatem Laouini, Tunisian trade unionist from the UGTT and representative of UNI Global Union in the Arab region.
• Christian Smalls, founder of the Amazon Labor Union in the United States.
• Santiago González Vallejo, Spanish economist and retired trade unionist attached to the USO International Action Secretariat.

This unjustified detention constitutes a grave violation of international law, an assault on the peaceful defence of human rights, and a direct threat to trade unionists’ right to engage in international solidarity.

The presence of respected union leaders on this mission underscores the global labour movement’s unwavering commitment to peace, human rights and solidarity with the Palestinian people.

ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle said: “We are witnessing ever-escalating series of atrocities in Gaza. Since late May, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed trying to access food. The entire population in Gaza is facing starvation under Israel’s illegal blockade.”

“While the international community is knowingly standing by and watching the mass killing and starvation unfold, these courageous activists undertook brave action to deliver critical humanitarian aid directly to Palestinians in Gaza, including baby milk formula, nappies, food and medicine. The world is in a moral crisis. These people should not be arrested but immediately released. Humanitarian aid should not be blocked, but allowed to reach Gaza without obstruction, and the people of Gaza must be able to peacefully access these supplies.”

The ITUC urgently calls for:

• The immediate and unconditional release of all those detained, including our trade union colleagues.
• International condemnation of Israel’s obstruction of a peaceful, humanitarian mission.
• Robust protection for trade unionists and other activists engaging in solidarity action to uphold fundamental human rights and international law.

The ITUC stands in full solidarity with the Handala mission and all those on board. We reaffirm our unwavering support for the Palestinian people and the right of workers everywhere to engage in peaceful activism.

The Canadian Labour Congress is a member of the ITUC.

The post Gaza: ITUC condemns Israeli interception of Handala solidarity boat and arrest of trade unionists appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

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 working reduced hours. The cost of living keeps increasing. The unemployment rate is at 7% nationally, and in the regions most directly impacted by steel and auto tariffs, it’s in the double digits. We have not seen any progress on the EI enhancements promised in the Liberal platform, but we’re seeing deeper-than-promised cuts to the public services we rely on. Nation-building projects have yet to be announced, and the government has been silent on any plans to build affordable housing.

The government has taken significant steps in quickly changing laws, spending new money on border control and defence, and hastily acting on Trump’s demands against Canada’s Digital Services Tax. But the same vigour is nowhere to be found when it comes to support for workers. Worse still, workers are only finding out about the state of negotiations through Truth Social posts or Trump’s press secretary.

As we approach the August 1^st deadline, workers are rightfully worried. We are worried about whether there will be a deal or whether we will face a 35% tariff. We are worried that the government appears to be preparing us so that even with a deal, we will continue to see tariffs on our products. We are worried about the concessions that the government has already given to Trump and what else they might be willing to give up to appease the American president.

We welcome the government’s recent extension of the temporary adjustment to Employment Insurance regional unemployment and the training support for steel workers. But more needs to be done. To date, government support for workers pales in comparison to its robust support for industry.

Canada’s unions are demanding urgent action from the government to:

• Include workers and their unions in discussions about the trade war. We are the backbone of the economy, and we should be included in these important discussions.
• Invest directly in affected workers and communities by robustly and immediately enhancing Employment Insurance, expanding Work-Sharing, and providing emergency income supports.
• Launch a new wage with job guarantees subsidy for businesses in affected sectors to protect workers affected by tariffs.
• Launch ambitious, nation-building projects and public infrastructure using Canadian materials to create good union jobs and build Canadian resilience.
• Impose counter-tariffs in response to the latest tariff attacks from Trump and use every dollar collected to support Canadian workers and businesses affected by the trade war, and;
• Ensure that new trade deals uphold Canadian values, including labour and environmental standards.

Defending Canada against Trump’s trade war is not a solo mission. It requires a Team Canada approach with workers and their unions playing a central role on the team.

The post Council of the Federation must focus on the impact of the trade war on workers appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

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 Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB), to discuss strategies in defending workers and their jobs in the face of economic turmoil.

The meetings bring together senior union leaders and policy experts to discuss a worker-centred approach to trade, industrial policy, and supply chain resilience in the face of growing geopolitical and economic threats.

Bea Bruske is available for media interviews to speak about:

• The impact of Trump’s tariff threat on Canadian and North American workers;
• Why global labour solidarity is critical in resisting austerity;
• How unions are building a transatlantic agenda to protect jobs and industries;

Quote:

“In a time of growing uncertainty and division, workers are showing what real global leadership looks like. Together with our union allies in the U.S. and Germany, we’re advancing a shared vision for an economy built on dignity, fairness, and international solidarity.” Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress.

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The post CLC President Bea Bruske in Washington for labour meetings amidst trade war  appeared first on 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 more workers in limbo. Now the government is considering cuts of up to 15% in some departments, risking the most significant downsizing of Canada’s public service at a time when the Prime Minister is committing to significant new spending on defence and tax cuts for the rich.

Public services can always be improved, and the workers who deliver those important services know how to make them better. However, across-the-board cuts will only harm the services Canadians rely on and the workers who provide them. Past rounds of austerity have undermined public services and increased government spending on costly external contractors.

Canada’s public service is one of the most efficient public service administrations in the world. Measured as a percentage of the population, the federal public service is smaller than it was in the 1980s, despite providing more services and serving a significantly older population.

At a time when Canadian workers are bracing for the economic impact of Trump’s reckless trade war, the federal government should lean in, not pull back. Trump’s attacks will have real impacts in communities across Canada, especially in manufacturing, steel, aluminum, and supply chain jobs. These workers and their families will need more support, not less. Slashing public services in the middle of an economic downturn will only make things worse. Adding thousands more to the growing ranks of the unemployed will further weaken our economy.

Canada’s unions will not sit idly while workers and public services are put at risk. The intended cuts to government spending are the worst round of austerity we’ve seen since 1995, when Paul Martin’s budget slashed transfers for health care, killed affordable housing programs, and gutted support systems Canadians depended on. If we’re facing a housing crisis, healthcare strain and woefully inadequate EI today, we can trace those problems back to Paul Martin’s austerity budget.

We urge Prime Minister Carney and his cabinet to change course, protect public services, and ensure that workers and communities come first.

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The post Canada’s unions warn against austerity appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Canada’s unions are deeply disappointed — and profoundly concerned — by Minister Hajdu’s decision to impose a vote on Canada Post’s final offers. Let’s be clear: the strongest, most lasting agreements are reached at the bargaining table, not forced through governmental interference.

This decision is more than just a misstep; it is a serious violation of the principles of free collective bargaining. Instead of remaining neutral, the Federal Government is once again acting on behalf of Canada Post, undermining CUPW’s right to be the sole and exclusive bargaining agent for its members. Rather than supporting fair, good-faith bargaining between parties, the Government continues the troubling union-busting trend we’ve seen from both Liberal and Conservative governments. When the government signals to employers that they can drag out negotiations and then be rewarded with a legislative shortcut, it undermines the foundation of fair and meaningful bargaining. It sends a dangerous message: that employers don’t need to bargain in good faith, they just need to wait it out.

This is unacceptable. It erodes workers’ Charter-protected rights and sets a damaging precedent for all unionized workers in this country. 

Canada’s unions will not stand by while this happens. We will not watch silently as public services are dismantled and workers are pushed aside.

CUPW members are fighting for more than just a contract. They’re standing up for the future of Canada Post, and for the next generation of workers who risk being pushed into gig-style, precarious jobs. If we want to stop the race to the bottom in wages and working conditions, we should be standing with them, not sidelining them.

Canada Post already has what no other private company does: a presence in every community in Canada. While big banks abandon rural towns, Canada Post remains. So why aren’t we investing in innovations like postal banking, which could deliver financial services where they’re needed most?

Canadians are ready for bold, nation-building ideas. Strengthening Canada Post should be one of them. Canada’s unions will not let outdated management strategies tear it down.

Canada Post isn’t just a service. It’s a public institution. It’s a pillar of good, unionized jobs and a vital link for communities across the country. Undermining it is a disservice to us all.

The federal government must respect the collective bargaining process. It must work with workers to build a Canada Post that delivers for the future.

The post Postal workers deserve a fair deal, not government interference appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

We welcome the recent joint statement by our heads of state calling for an immediate halt to Israel’s assault in Gaza and for unimpeded access to humanitarian aid.

These are critical first steps toward alleviating the suffering of civilians caught in the conflict.

Our governments rightly acknowledged that permanent forced displacement is a breach of international humanitarian law, and we welcome their opposition to settlement expansion and the recognition that it is illegal and undermines the viability of a Palestinian state.

However, words must be matched by action.

Given the urgency and scale of the crisis, we call on our governments to use every diplomatic, legal, and economic lever available to:

• Demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire;
• Ensure the Israeli government meets its obligations under international humanitarian law;
• Initiate a credible political process aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace

It’s time for our leaders to formally recognise the State of Palestine immediately.

As members of the G7, doing so would send a powerful signal, particularly in the lead-up to the UN conference co-chaired by France in mid-June.

The time for decisive action is now. The need for justice, peace, and recognition has never been more urgent.

Link to the official letter sent to the Prime Minister here

The post Joint statement from French, British, and Canadian unions appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Canada has a responsibility to stand up for international law, human rights, and the dignity of all people. That means recognizing Palestinian statehood, supporting a two-way arms embargo, ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid, and ending trade with illegal Israeli settlements.

Workers in Canada expect their government to show leadership rooted in justice, accountability, and peace.

Read the full letter below:

Dear Prime Minister Carney,

Re: Gaza

On behalf of the Canadian Labour Congress and the more than three million workers we represent, I want to commend you for your recent joint statement with the leaders of France and the United Kingdom calling for a complete stop to military operations in Gaza and the immediate facilitation of humanitarian aid. In a moment of immense human suffering and growing global instability, it is good to see Canada recommit itself to the principles of international law, human dignity, and peace.

Words matter, and your statement was an important signal. But words must be followed by concrete action.

We urge your government to build on this moment by taking the following steps:

• Recognize Palestinian statehood: Canada has long supported a two-state solution, and recognition of Palestinian statehood is a necessary step toward making that vision a reality.
• Support a two-way arms embargo: The violence and suffering will not end if weapons continue to flow into the region. Canada must support an immediate two-way arms embargo to stop fueling the conflict. We urge the government to work with trade unions representing workers in the impacted arms and technology industries to develop a just transition plan to secure their livelihoods.
• Continue funding UN agencies, including UNRWA: Humanitarian agencies need immediate, unrestricted access to Gaza. Canada should encourage allies to renew and increase support to UNRWA and other UN bodies to deliver life-saving aid to civilians who are facing starvation, displacement, and disease.
• Impose targeted sanctions on individuals responsible for violations of international law and human rights. Canada must apply a consistent and principled approach to accountability, no matter the actor.
• Cancel the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA) and prohibit all trade with illegal Israeli settlements. The CLC has long called for a ban on goods produced in Israeli settlements and for mandatory labeling to distinguish such goods from those made within Israel’s internationally recognized borders.

Beyond these urgent measures, we call on you to coordinate international leadership to:

• Secure a permanent ceasefire;
• Ensure the immediate release of all remaining Israeli hostages, and the bodies of those that have tragically passed away;
• Reaffirm unwavering support for a negotiated two-state solution as the only path to lasting peace and stability; and
• Reopen the Israeli labour market to Palestinian workers, and advocate that back wages be paid to the more than 200,000 affected workers.

Prime Minister, Canada has an opportunity and a responsibility to be a voice for peace. In times of conflict, our commitment to diplomacy, international law, and human rights must guide our actions toward a just and lasting resolution.

Yours sincerely,

Bea Bruske
President

The post Canada’s unions urge the government to take action to help end the crisis in Gaza appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“2SLGBTQI+ workers make enormous contributions to our workplaces, unions and communities,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “Today, and every day, Canada’s unions show our pride by celebrating and fiercely defending the vibrant diversity within our movement.”

We know from research that a 2SLGBTQI-inclusive workforce builds a strong economy. However, the opposite is also true – the discrimination and exclusion that many 2SLGBTQI+ workers face at work and in society have negative impacts on a country’s economic development and prosperity. 

Unfortunately, today’s affordability crisis impacts 2SLGBTQI+ people disproportionately. In 2023:

• 40.7% of 2SLGBTQI+ individuals found it difficult or very difficult to meet financial needs, compared to 32.7% of non-2SLGBTQI+ individuals;
• Racialized 2SLGBTQI+ community members experience even greater income disparities relative to their white counterparts; and
• 2SLGBTQI+ individuals are twice as likely to experience homelessness compared to their heterosexual, cisgender counterparts, while queer women are 4 four times as likely. 

“A strong Canadian economy is one where everyone can thrive, no matter their background, race, religion, or identity. That’s why building a 2SLGBTQI+-inclusive society benefits us all,” adds Larry Rousseau, Executive Vice President of the CLC. “Canada’s unions will continue to lead the charge when it comes to building more inclusive workplaces and defending hard-won gains for 2SLGBTQI+ rights at work and in our communities.”

This Pride season, join Canada’s unions and show your solidarity to celebrate and defend 2SLGBTQI+ rights both at work and in our communities. 

The post Solidarity in our Pride: Unions Welcome 2025 Pride Season in Celebration of 2SLGBTQI+ Workers and Communities appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

We are thinking of you. We stand with you. 

We extend our deepest gratitude to the frontline workers—firefighters, emergency responders, public service workers, and so many others—who are working around the clock, often in dangerous conditions, to protect lives and communities. 

We owe them not just our thanks, but our full support—today and every day. 

That support must include fair treatment for all firefighters. Forest firefighters are often left out of the protections and benefits that others receive. They are not included in the Public Safety Occupation provisions of the federal Income Tax Act, which means they don’t get the same pension rights or recognition under the National Occupational Classification. 

Despite their invaluable service, forest and wildland firefighters do not receive the recognition, protections, and retirement benefits that their urban and structural counterparts do. This built-in inequality must be addressed so that these essential workers receive the recognition and protection they rightfully deserve. 

There also needs to be a focus on recruitment and retention, something  Canada’s unions have advocated for a long time.  

These fires are not isolated incidents. They are part of a larger pattern that can no longer be ignored. Climate change is real, and its impacts are accelerating. The time for half-measures and delay is over. 

Workers must have a seat at the table when it comes to shaping the future of our country. The climate crisis is a workers’ issue, a public health issue, an economic issue—and it demands bold, coordinated action. 

To all the workers and families on the frontlines of this crisis, we stand with you in solidarity. We stand for justice, equality, and recognition of the critical work you do—every day, and in every part of this country. 

The post Statement from Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, on the Wildfires Affecting Communities Across Canada appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

This decision will shut us out of the  U.S. market completely, devastating Canada’s steel & aluminum industry and threatening thousands of good-paying, unionized Canadian jobs. 

In light of this escalating threat, Canada’s unions call for immediate government action to protect workers.  

This includes: 

• Emergency reforms to Employment Insurance (EI) that actually support laid-off workers when they need it most, 

• The immediate expansion of Section 53 measures to give the government the flexibility to act swiftly in protecting key sectors. 

• A clear commitment that nation-building projects under the upcoming One Canadian Economy legislation prioritize Canadian steel as a condition for fast-tracking approval, and 

• Wage subsidies and other targeted measures to keep workers on the job and businesses operating. 

Canada must respond with strength and urgency.  Workers cannot be left to face the fallout alone.  

We need a government that is prepared to stand  up for Canadian industries, invest in good union jobs, and protect our economic sovereignty in the face of growing international uncertainty. 

The post Statement from Bea Bruske in Reaction to Trump’s Plan to Double Tariffs appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

OTTAWA –– Workers expected an ambitious plan to strengthen our economy, create jobs, and defend communities against Trump’s agenda, however, today’s throne speech provided none of this.

Workers need the federal government to have a plan, backed by bold investment and action, to deliver good union jobs, stronger public services, and economic security for all.

Canadian families continue to bear the brunt of a continued affordability crisis and Trump’s economic chaos. For far too many workers, wages are not keeping up with rising costs. Families are facing an increasingly unattainable housing market, and many are being left behind by a strained Employment Insurance system and an under-resourced public health care system. At the same time, a rising unemployment rate is making it even harder for workers to find stable, secure jobs and support their families.

Prioritizing tax cuts for the wealthy over support for those who need it most signals a step away from the bold action needed to tackle the trade war, housing crisis, strained health care, and the climate emergency.

While we welcome the government’s intention to “bring down costs for Canadians”, we are deeply concerned by a Throne Speech that emphasizes deregulation, cost-cutting, and fiscal restraint over meaningful investment in people and the services they rely on.

The Throne Speech’s proposals to eliminate internal trade barriers fail to raise the bar for workers across the board and instead risk weakening standards and protections and undermining provincial autonomy. Unions must have a seat at the table in these conversations because workers cannot be an afterthought when shaping Canada’s future.

The government must prioritize the creation of good jobs and a globally competitive industrial strategy, but not if it comes at the cost of public oversight or by shortchanging the workers who build our economy. It must begin with investments in infrastructure, clean energy, manufacturing, and care services that create good union jobs and support communities.

Tinkering with regulations or shrinking government operations is no substitute for the real, sustained investment that working families need.

On housing, we urge the government to go beyond incentives for private developers and commit to building publicly funded, truly affordable housing. Every Canadian deserves a safe place to call home, not just market-driven promises of “affordability.”

The government’s commitment to attracting global talent is important, but it must go hand-in-hand with strong labour protections, fair wages, and a renewed focus on training and retaining workers already here. Immigration policy must be grounded in equity and sustainability, not as a cover for suppressing wages or undercutting working conditions.

Lastly, we are particularly alarmed by the suggestion of cutting public services at a time when Canadians, reeling from Trump’s trade war, need more support, not less.

Limiting investments now would only deepen inequality and strain already overburdened systems like health care and EI. Similarly, vague promises to use AI to boost productivity must be met with clear commitments to job protection, quality public services, and strong regulations to ensure technology works for and with workers, not against them.

Workers are watching. This moment calls for courageous leadership, not cost-cutting or complacency. The government must work with Canada’s unions to raise wages, strengthen public health care, implement universal, publicly funded Pharmacare, modernize Employment Insurance, and ensure that no worker is left behind.

It’s time for this government to choose: bold leadership, or missed opportunity.

Workers were front and centre during the election, but left out of the Throne Speech.

We’re ready to work with this government, but make no mistake: if it fails workers, we won’t hesitate to hold it to account.

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

The post Throne Speech misses the mark for workers appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Workers in the Crossfire: Inflation, Austerity, Precarious Jobs and Rising Insecurity

Workers in G7 countries have faced a series of compounding shocks in recent years that have significantly strained household incomes and undermined job security. The 2022- 2023 surge in inflation led to a pronounced cost-of-living crisis that remains ongoing. As prices for essential goods and services soared, wages failed to keep pace, sharply eroding the purchasing power of working families. In response, central banks raised interest rates aggressively in an effort to rein in inflation, which subsequently increased borrowing costs and dampened both business investment and household consumption. In many countries, high interest rates have fuelled increases in capital income, widening income and wealth inequality as well as social polarisation.

While easing inflation has seen interest rates lowered over the past year, previous rate hikes continue to weigh down the credit supply. A significant share of corporate and mortgage debt taken out during a period of low interest rates is yet to mature and will need to be refinanced in the near future. This will come at a higher cost, leading to increased interest payments and additional strain on household and corporate finances. Restrictive monetary policy, coupled with austerity policies or overly cautious fiscal policy, have also had profound effects on the labour market. Unemployment rates have increased in several G7 countries, particularly in sectors such as construction and manufacturing, which are acutely sensitive to higher interest rates and rely heavily on sustained consumer demand and public and private investment. Many firms have postponed or cancelled projects, leading to restructuring and layoffs, hiring and wage

freezes, and weakened employment prospects. Meanwhile, the share of precarious, part- time, and non-standard forms of work has grown in many countries, reflecting a broader shift toward poor quality and more insecure employment — an issue that disproportionately affects vulnerable groups, including women, youth and migrants, who are overrepresented in these forms of work.

Widespread uncertainty, driven not only by high living and borrowing costs and weak employment prospects, but also exacerbated by the changing geopolitical landscape, conflicts and trade disruptions, continues to cast a shadow over the global economy. The recent introduction of highly disruptive trade tariffs has already unsettled supply chains and increased financial pressure on producers, investors and consumers. While the current global trading system has led to a race to the bottom in wages and working conditions, the use of trade tariffs as an aggressive political tool will disproportionately affect low-income groups, due to their heightened vulnerability to rising prices and increased risk of job losses.

As a result of these and other external pressures, economic activity has slowed across most G7 economies and beyond. This deceleration is feeding into the labour market, where employment growth is losing momentum and hiring plans have become increasingly cautious. It is therefore critical to adopt concerted economic, trade and labour market policies that take into account the evolution of the labour market and prioritise the rights and needs of workers, including the creation of quality jobs.

A Path Forward: Supporting Inclusive and Employment-rich Economic Growth

While inflation has been the primary concern in recent years, the greater threat now lies in prolonged economic stagnation and labour market deterioration. The Labour 7 is concerned that the continuation of restrictive monetary policy risks stalling economic activity, suppressing demand, and even pushing inflation below target in several G7 countries, including Canada, Germany, France and Italy. Excessively tight monetary policy may also exacerbate existing labour market weaknesses, potentially triggering a cycle of employment restructuring. To avoid such a scenario, the Labour 7 calls upon central banks in G7 countries to reduce interest rates at an accelerated pace. To minimise the risk of sharp inflationary spikes in the future and prevent firms from marking up prices and widening margins, it is essential to expand the policy toolkit with measures that address monopsonic or oligopolistic markets, strengthen appropriate rent and price controls, expand strategic commodity reserves and shore up labour market institutions, including collective bargaining, to coordinate wage and price setting.

Moreover, fiscal policy plays a key role in stimulating aggregate demand and supporting job creation. In many countries, however, restrictive fiscal policy and austerity measures have delayed necessary investment and led to cuts in social investment. Strategic public investment combined with a strong public sector, with sufficient human, financial and material resources, is essential — not only for boosting consumption, fostering employment and advancing a just transition, but also for cushioning against economic

downturns and counteracting the adverse effects of rising trade protectionism ensuing from the current trade war. With inflation now largely under control, the Labour 7 calls for a shift towards expansionary fiscal policy. Governments must prioritise recovery, economic and social resilience, climate action and long-term stability, ensuring that workers’ rights and livelihoods are protected.

This can best be supported by fairer and more progressive tax policies, including progressive taxation of wealth and capital income, increased corporate income effective tax rates, a financial transaction tax and a clear and stable legal framework for taxation of windfall profits realised in a context of economic recessions at the expense of workers. These must be accompanied by increased investment in health, social protection, education and other essential public services, active labour market policy, skilling and lifelong learning programmes, affordable housing, clean and affordable energy, and green infrastructure and technologies. Governments need to invest in social policy and guarantee universal access to public services and welfare for all. This would increase the resilience of economies in a time of uncertainty and turmoil. Public investments must be conditional on respect for workers’ rights, first and foremost collective bargaining and freedom of association, as well as compliance with Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) standards. Despite limited fiscal space and increases in military spending, the Labour 7 urges G7 members to meet their commitment to dedicate at least 0.7% of GNI to official development assistance to address the dramatic development setbacks and emerging debt crises in developing countries.

Last year, G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors agreed “that countries’ policy mix for a just transition should be designed in a way that encourages innovation, finance and investment in green technologies, reflects equity considerations, and promotes social and political support for climate action” (Stresa, May 2024). It is now time to take further steps by implementing policies that advance climate action while fostering green and decent job creation and upholding fundamental labour rights — particularly the right to collective bargaining, in line with the ILO 2015 Guidelines on Just Transition.

The Labour 7 call upon G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to:

• Reduce interest rates at a faster pace and implement expansionary fiscal policies to stimulate demand and quality employment and to avoid stalling economic recovery.
• Coordinate fiscal and monetary policy to stabilise prices and preserve long-term affordability, including through measures that address monopsonic and oligopolistic markets, strengthen appropriate rent and price controls, expand strategic commodity reserves and shore up labour market institutions, including collective bargaining.
• Implement fairer and more progressive tax policies to enhance fiscal space and reduce inequality, including progressive taxation of wealth and capital income, higher corporate income effective tax rates, a legal framework for windfall profits taxation and a financial transaction tax.
• Reinforce active labour market policies, skilling and lifelong learning programmes to reduce unemployment and improve labour market adaptability.
• Increase investment in health, social protection, education and affordable housing to safeguard livelihoods, improve mobility and tackle poverty and segregation.
• Expand investment in clean and affordable energy, green infrastructure and technologies to stimulate green and quality job creation and advance a just transition.
• Uphold fundamental labour rights, particularly the right to collective bargaining, including as a tool to promote real-wage growth, as recognized by G7 Leaders in the 2023 Hiroshima Communiqué.
• Comply with the internationally agreed UN target of dedicating 0.7 percent of GNI to official development assistance.

The post Labour 7 Statement to G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Windsor, ON – The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) stands in solidarity with workers as they face the devastating consequences of new U.S. tariffs on the Canadian auto industry.

Following the announcement of the tariffs, Stellantis Windsor Assembly Plant workers were informed that the plant would shut down for two weeks beginning April 7, with further schedule changes anticipated.

This disruption creates significant uncertainty for workers and the broader industry, threatening livelihoods and economic stability.

To address these urgent concerns, CLC President Bea Bruske and CLC Executive Vice-President Siobhán Vipond will join workers at a press conference in Windsor to discuss the impact of the tariffs and demand government action to protect Canadian jobs.

What:              Press Conference to address economic disruption caused by Trump’s tariffs

When:            Monday, April 7, at 10:00 a.m. ET

Where:           Assumption North Park – 2400 Riverside Dr W, Windsor, ON or via Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87453510904)

Who:               Bea Bruske, President, Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)
Siobhán Vipond, Executive Vice President, Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)
Bill Pollock, President, United Auto Workers Local 251

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

The post Canadian Labour Congress joins workers in Windsor, Ontario appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

This platform, for workers and by workers, outlines the urgent need for immediate action to protect Canadian workers and their families.

Bruske and McCormick will be joined by workers who will share their personal stories, emphasizing the real-life impacts of ongoing economic challenges.

“Workers are already doing everything right. They’re showing up, working hard, supporting their families, but President Trump’s attacks on Canada are putting their livelihoods at risk. And while their costs keep going up, they’re being left to fend for themselves. That’s unacceptable. We urge all political parties and candidates to make clear commitments to defend Canadian jobs and protect workers and their families from the crushing pressure of this economic war.”–Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress

“Workers have a lot at stake in this election. It’s time for us to demand that parties and candidates prioritize the needs of workers and their families. Through the Workers Together campaign, we’re standing up to corporate greed, pushing for fair wages, affordable housing, and policies that put people before profits.”–Jessica McCormick, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour

Event Details:

The press conference will highlight the platform’s key proposals and call for political parties and candidates to make clear, actionable commitments to support workers in this critical time.

WHO:

• Bea Bruske, President, Canadian Labour Congress
• Jessica McCormick, President, Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour

WHEN: Monday, March 24, 11:00 a.m. NDT

WHERE: Delta Hotel, 120 New Gower St.—Salon E (Harbour View) and available on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85862493438

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

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

The post Labour leaders launch “Building a Better Future for Working People” platform appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

The recent wave of targeted actions to stop Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies, programs and initiatives in the United States has profound implications not just for workers south of the border, but for those here in Canada as well.

DEI initiatives are based on the principle that all workers, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other identities, should have equal opportunities and protections in the workplace. These principles align with the core values the Canadian labour movement has long fought to uphold, and we must continue to defend them now in these polarizing times.

By actively dismantling these initiatives, those wielding the axe are sending a clear message: that the rights of equity-deserving communities are expendable, that the pursuit of equality and fairness is optional and that the systemic inequities that DEI programs aim to address are not only acceptable but desirable.

This is not just a debate over workplace policies—what we are witnessing is not a genuine effort to improve workplaces—but a ploy by reactionary right-wing forces and politicians seeking to roll back the clock on hard-won rights and create a divisive, exclusionary society. Attacks on DEI initiatives are part of a concerted and organized effort to undermine progress on human rights, sow division among workers and maintain power structures that benefit the few at the expense of the many.

“These are deliberate attacks on the fundamental human rights that underpin a just society. They aim to create a narrative, and indeed a society, where equity and social progress are seen as threats, and exclusion and discrimination are accepted, normalized and further entrenched. We won’t stand for it,” said CLC Executive Vice-President, Larry Rousseau.

In Canada, where we continue to see a rise in hate due to years of deliberate fear-mongering by politicians and far-right actors, the widespread anti-DEI actions in the U.S. will only embolden those who seek to undermine and reverse our nation’s progress on social issues and human rights. In a climate where the affordability crisis is seeing neighbours being pitted against one another and entire communities being scapegoated for the actions of big business, big developers and greedy politicians, it is crucial that we remain unwavering and unapologetic in our defense of equity and inclusion. Not only as fundamental safeguards for human rights, but also in defense of workers and the strength of organized labour, which, together, can resist these forces.

The fight for DEI is a fight for unity among workers. It is about recognizing that an injury to one is an injury to all and that when we elevate the rights and opportunities of the most marginalized among us, we strengthen those of all workers. When we stand together—united in our demands for equity, dignity, and justice—we are a formidable force able to use the collective strength needed to challenge the longstanding systems of power that perpetuate widespread inequities.

Now more than ever, we must stand united in defense of the rights and needs of all workers, firmly rejecting any efforts to divide us. Check out our Workers Together campaign and join the fight today.

The post Workers in Canada are pushing back against attacks on DEI policies 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.

Nearly 9,000 jobs are on the line, and Canada’s unions won’t stand by while workers are left in the dark.

Canada’s unions stand in solidarity with HBC workers and urge the company to prioritize workers’ rights throughout the liquidation process.

We demand that HBC honour its commitments—wages, benefits, and severance must be paid. No backroom deals, no vague promises—workers deserve full transparency.

HBC must ensure that frontline workers aren’t the ones left paying the price.

We demand full and timely transparency from HBC on store closures, layoffs, and severance protections.

We call on the federal government to confirm that workers’ EI benefits will not be clawed back because of the severance and termination benefits HBC owes them.

These commitments are not merely legal obligations but a matter of fundamental fairness and respect for the dedicated employees who have contributed to the company’s success.

Workers’ livelihoods are at stake and they deserve clear, honest communication about their future.

Canada’s unions are calling on HBC to put workers first during these creditor protection and bankruptcy proceedings. We stand ready to defend workers’ rights and fight for their financial security every step of the way.

HBC must act with responsibility and compassion as they navigate this crisis.

The well-being of thousands of workers and their families hangs in the balance. We will not stand by as corporate interests trample on the people who built this company.

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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 on Hudson’s Bay to prioritize workers in bankruptcy proceedings appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“We are pleased to see that the Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care funding agreements will continue until 2031 in almost every province and territory,” said Bea Bruske, CLC President.  “Sustainable federal funding is essential to building a national child care system that meets the needs of working families in Canada.  In the midst of a trade war that will have far-reaching impacts on many workers, access to affordable child care will make a huge difference for parents who need to know their children are safe and well cared for while they go to work or receive training”.

During times of economic stress, workers need stable and reliable public services so they can participate in the labour force and manage the increased costs of essentials.  While our child care system is still expanding to meet the increasing demand for care, having the security of longer-term federal funding will help the sector continue to grow.

“The next step is to help the early learning and child care system expand and flourish with new public and not-for-profit facilities in every community and a robust workforce strategy that will help recruit and retain child care workers by improving wages, benefits, working conditions, and professional development opportunities”, said Siobhán Vipond, CLC Executive Vice-President.

“As we approach a federal election, Canada’s unions urge all parties to commit to $10 a Day Child Care and to continuing to build and strengthen the system so that every working family has quality, comprehensive care they can count on.  Our economy depends on it”, said Bruske.

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

The post Canada’s Unions welcome extended child care funding appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

To our governments: 

This is a time for action. Canadians expect a strong and decisive response that meets this attack with the full weight of our country’s power. This is not a moment for half-measures or empty words. We must protect Canadian jobs and industries through retaliation and investments in our future. We must enhance Employment Insurance benefits, expand Work-Sharing programs and provide direct financial support to those at the frontlines of this trade war. This is a moment to rebuild our manufacturing, strengthen our supply chains, and create the good union jobs of tomorrow. We must replace lost economic activity with ambitious nation-building projects—affordable housing, public transit, and industrial development that makes our country stronger and more self-sufficient. We need our governments to match the ambition of Canadians in defence of this country. This war will not be won on the cheap.  

To all workers in Canada:

The road ahead will be tough. We will see job losses, we will see economic pain, and we will see attempts to divide us. But Canada’s workers are strong, smart, and resilient. What makes us Canadian is our unwavering belief in the collective—that we take care of each other, that no one gets left behind. Now more than ever, we must live those values. Already you’ve shown your pride at hockey games and in grocery stores. Now is the time to dig in. Get involved in your union. Stand up for your community. Support local businesses and union-made products. Look out for your neighbours. Reach across political lines and reject the forces of division. Because we are stronger together, and together, we will overcome this.  

Make no mistake: Trump wants to hurt Canadian workers. He wants to shake our confidence and weaken our country. But what he doesn’t understand is that Canadians do not break. We will fight for our jobs, for our families, and for our future—come hell or high water.

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

Link to Backgrounder available here
Link to Letter to Prime Minister available here

The post Statement from Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, on Trump’s tariff attack on Canada appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

The meeting will focus on the economic consequences of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods and services, emphasizing how these measures threaten jobs, increase costs for businesses and consumers, and weaken the long-standing economic partnership between Canada and the United States.

As part of broader efforts to push back against tariffs, labour leaders will make the case for policies that strengthen the economic ties that support good jobs on both sides of the border.

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

The post CLC President Bea Bruske available after U.S. – Canada trade talks in Washington, D.C. 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.

“Donald Trump’s reckless threats are a direct attack on workers on both sides of the border”, said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “Canadians are rightfully alarmed and expect strong leadership from their governments to protect their jobs and defend our industries from these harmful policies.”

Eight in ten Canadians believe American tariffs on Canadian goods will increase the cost of living and nine in ten believe it will have a negative impact on Canada-US relations.

In response to these threats:

• 90% of Canadians support an investment plan to grow our economy, support Canadian industries and create good jobs.
• 77% believe the federal government should retaliate by placing tariffs on American imports and 75% want Canada to cut off American access to Canadian resources like electricity, oil and wood.
• 80% want the government to support people who would be impacted by job losses.
• Two in three Canadians reject an appeasement policy toward Trump.

“This is a moment of unity for Canada,” said Bruske. “Political leaders at all levels of government and from all parties should listen to Canadians and understand that people expect them to stand united for Canada and Canadian workers.”

The post Canadians reject Trump’s tariff threats: New CLC poll appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

Large corporations are worsening the affordability crisis for workers and their families, causing the cost of housing, groceries, and other necessities to skyrocket. This crisis hurts everyone, but it’s significantly more challenging for those who already have limited access to resources, including women and gender-diverse people. 

In Canada, sixty percent of minimum wageworkers are women, almost a third of women live in homes that are unaffordable, inadequately sized, or in disrepair,  and according to a 2023 Statistics Canada report, 21 percent of families with a female major income earner were food insecure versus 16% with a male major earner and food insecurity was highest among female lone parent families (41%).

Canadian workers reject the politics of hate and division peddled by conservatives. We know everyone is being squeezed, and we demand that each party get serious and commit to real solutions that pave the way for a better future. 

Take action for Gender Equality Week 2024! Join our Workers Together campaign and tell federal political leaders:

We demand a better deal that makes corporations pay their fair share so workers can finally get ahead.

By making wealthy corporations pay their due in taxes, we can reinvest in the things that keep our communities strong, like programs to make life more affordable, our care systems, and ensuring everyone has a place to call home.

We demand pharmacare: workers need a better deal that finally puts our needs first.

Overall, too many workers can’t afford medications due to corporate greed and conservative efforts to protect corporate profits. In particular, women are more likely than men not to fill their prescription drugs because of cost – whether or not they have drug insurance.

We demand a better deal that prioritizes care and care workers.

Women make up most of the paid and unpaid care economy, and jobs caring for children, older adults, and people with disabilities tend to be underpaid and precarious.  

Care workers look after our children, parents, and loved ones, yet conservative provincial and federal leaders prioritize cuts over supporting them. It’s no wonder there are worker shortages in health care, childcare, and other care sectors, and childcare is becoming harder to find.

We demand a better deal that prioritizes good jobs and a say in our future.

Extreme weather events are threatening our lives and livelihoods. Rising temperatures cause intense wildfires, water scarcity, droughts and displacement; it’s also projected to cause income losses for Canadians, especially low-income households. 

Climate change disproportionately impacts the cultures, traditions and economies of Indigenous peoples and the traditional roles of Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people in their communities. Extreme weather events have also been shown to increase the demand for services related to intimate partner violence.

It’s time to demand a deal for workers that puts us at the forefront, paving the way for a better future. Let’s work together and make our voices heard.

CLC Executive Vice-President, Siobhán Vipond: “Wage gaps are widening because of the unequal impacts of the affordability crisis, with little relief in sight. Women are over-represented in part-time and low-paying jobs, while women and gender-diverse people are more likely to be inadequately housed and food insecure. When the costs of basic necessities like food, housing and utilities go up, these longstanding inequalities are compounded. It’s time for the federal government to act.” CLC President, Bea Bruske: “Rising prices have led to skyrocketing profits for the wealthiest people and corporations, while everyone else is stuck footing the bill. Workers are fed up having to subsidize the lavish lifestyle of Canada’s multi-millionaires and billionaires. Their bill is due, and it’s time for these profiteers to pay up. The federal government has a duty to make big corporations and investors pay what they owe and put that money back into social programming that supports workers and our families.”

CLC President, Bea Bruske: “Rising prices have led to skyrocketing profits for the wealthiest people and corporations, while everyone else is stuck footing the bill. Workers are fed up having to subsidize the lavish lifestyle of Canada’s multi-millionaires and billionaires. Their bill is due, and it’s time for these profiteers to pay up. The federal government has a duty to make big corporations and investors pay what they owe and put that money back into social programming that supports workers and our families.”

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“Workers are the backbone of this country, they power our economy, and the government has an obligation to invest in programs that support them,” said CLC President Bea Bruske. “This fall, the government has a clear choice: either invest in people, or allow the challenges facing workers to worsen.”

The cost-of-living crisis has left many workers struggling to afford basic necessities. The CLC is calling for the government to step in and provide relief by ensuring a fairer tax system is in place in which the wealthiest pay their fair share and that housing and groceries are affordable for everyone.

The CLC is issuing a stark warning about Canada’s healthcare crisis, citing chronic underfunding and the growing threat of privatization. The CLC is urging the Senate to pass Bill C-64, long-promised pharmacare legislation, and significantly invest in public healthcare, including long-term care. Privatization, Bruske warned, threatens to undermine the universal healthcare that Canadians rely on and will further deepen inequities in access to care.

Finally, the CLC demands for the government to focus on enhancing support for Canada’s workforce by reforming the Employment Insurance (EI) system and pension programs to ensure workers can access benefits when they need them most. Canada’s unions are also calling for a national strategy to expand skills training and upskilling opportunities, allowing workers to adapt to a rapidly changing economy.

“Our EI system is outdated, and too many workers fall through the cracks when they lose their jobs. Now is the time for the government to create a more inclusive and supportive EI program,” said Bruske. “At the same time, we need to invest in training that prepares workers for the future, so no one is left behind as industries evolve.”

As Parliament resumes, Canada’s unions will continue to advocate for policies that prioritize workers’ rights, urging the government to commit to real, lasting change that benefits everyone in Canada

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Workers are the backbone of our economy. Every day, we power industries, drive innovation, and support communities. Yet, as we work to keep Canada running, we face an ever-growing financial squeeze. Housing, a basic human right, has become a luxury few can afford. Pay cheques, already stretched thin, can no longer cover basic necessities. Grocery bills, utilities and other essentials that form the bedrock of our daily lives are becoming increasingly unaffordable, pushing families to the brink.

Meanwhile, corporations and the wealthiest individuals are reaping record profits. This stark contrast is not just unfair—it’s unsustainable. By inflating prices, hoarding profits and dodging taxes, corporations shift the financial burden onto ordinary Canadians.

It’s time to end corporate greed and make those who have benefited the most contribute their fair share.

We need our politicians to ensure that corporations and the wealthy are held accountable and made to pay up. Some politicians, like Pierre Poilievre, speak often about the struggles working people face, but refuse to hold corporations accountable. In fact, Mr. Poilievre has voted consistently to cut corporate taxes throughout his 20 years in parliament.

Failing to make corporations pay what they owe makes it harder to provide relief to families and hollows out crucial funding for services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure. These services support the well-being and security of everyone—helping to build a society where everyday people can improve their lives and their families’ futures. This is exactly why pushing back against corporate greed and fighting for fairness is so important to Canada’s unions.

The collective strength and relentless advocacy of unions and workers have led to the creation of essential social programs that improve affordability and quality of life. Through our united efforts, programs like the Canada Pension Plan, public healthcare, public transit, employment insurance, and affordable childcare have become pillars of support for all workers.

At the core of our beliefs lies an unwavering commitment to the fundamental principle of fairness and dignity in the workplace. We advocate for better wages, safer working conditions, and essential benefits like healthcare and pensions, ensuring that every worker—regardless of their position—is treated with respect.  Unions have long fought for the rights of all working people. Now, it’s time for our political leaders to follow suit. The path forward demands a concerted effort to prioritize people over profits, by creating good union jobs, investing in public services, and ensuring that corporations and wealthy individuals pay their fair share. By doing so, Canada can build a more equitable society where workers and their families can thrive

As Canada approaches this crossroads, the choices made now will determine the future for generations to come. So, this Labour Day, let’s bring workers together – and let’s get a better deal

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“Canada’s working class is being pushed to the brink. Families do everything right to get ahead, yet groceries, housing, and other essentials fall further out of reach. Workers deserve a better deal – and unions are the key to unlocking it,” said Bea Bruske, President of the CLC. “Workers Together is by workers, for workers. With the support of unions, it amplifies workers’ voices for a better future.”

With this national campaign, Canada’s unions are working with their members and workers across the country to advance the pressing issues facing working families.

Poverty rates are rising, with seniors, Indigenous and racialized communities, and people with disabilities disproportionately affected. Surging housing costs are stretching household budgets to breaking point.

Alarmingly, only two in five workers can access Employment Insurance when they need it and workplace pensions have become increasingly rare, leaving many Canadians without a financial safety net. These challenges are compounded by a care system in crisis. At the same time, wealth inequality continues to widen, as the richest Canadians and large corporations amass record profits. 

“This growing disparity is unacceptable,” warned Bruske. “We’re seeing a system that favours the wealthiest while leaving hardworking Canadians behind. Workers have had enough.”

Canada’s unions are advocating for programs and services that will improve the lives of all workers, such as affordable housing, improved public health care, expanded pharmacare, Employment Insurance reform, and investments in public transit and a sustainable economy. 

Bruske added: “Workers together is about workers coming together and ensuring we have pro-worker voices in government to hold big corporations accountable. Politicians like Poilievre talk big and then vote against workers’ interests when it matters. It’s time to expose these anti-worker politicians and demand real support for working people.”

“From the workplace, to the checkout, to Parliament: Workers deserve respect, not just on Labour Day but every day,” emphasized Bruske.

For more information, visit https://workerstogether.ca. 

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