OTTAWA–– The Canadian Labour Congress will convene representatives of millions of workers from across Canada Thursday to discuss how they will advance the rights of workers. Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, will lead the Council’s discussion and make an announcement about the Canadian Football League Players’ Association. “Representatives of millions of workers will gather in Ottawa this week ready to deliver a clear message to politicians of every stripe: if you want our votes, you must respect and enhance our rights. Not with pretty words, but concrete action,” warned B ..read more

OTTAWA––Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, is available for comment on what workers are looking for in the upcoming federal budget. “Powerful corporations do better than ever while families are forced to pay for the affordability crisis. The upcoming budget is an opportunity to deliver much-needed help and address these inequities,” explained Bruske. “We must invest in non-profit rental and social housing, to make homes affordable for every family. And the budget can take additional steps to make life more affordable, including cracking down on corporate price gouging and j ..read more

By Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress as published in iPolitics We hear a familiar call coming from wealthy interests – joining forces once again with Conservatives – banging the drum for more corporate tax giveaways and deeper cuts to government spending in the upcoming Budget. Bay Street analysts and bank lobbyists loudly lament Canada’s “tumbling productivity”, sneeringly spreading blame on both workers and the government. As Budget 2024 approaches, we must confront these anti-worker narratives head on. Because we’ve seen this movie before and, spoiler alert, it ..read more

Bruske: Premier Kinew’s commitment to workers is evident in the enactment of vital legislation to support them. WINNIPEG – Canada’s unions celebrate today’s historic announcement from the Manitoba government, marking a significant step towards ensuring worker’s rights are protected and supported in the province. By introducing laws to ban replacement workers and restoring card check certification, Premier Kinew’s government is prioritizing the well-being of working families by restoring fairness at the bargaining table. It’s a great day for workers in Manitoba. Premier Kinew’s commitment to wo ..read more

OTTAWA – To protect workers and restore fairness at the bargaining table, we need strong anti-scab legislation, in every jurisdiction. On February 27th, while Parliamentarians from all parties voted unanimously in support of Bill C-58, legislation that would ban replacement workers, 239 Unifor members in Nova Scotia went on strike. By the end of that very same day, the employer, CN Rail, brought in scabs. Although this is a provincially regulated workplace, it merits every politician’s attention. “I’ve heard some concerning stories from workers who faced direct conflict during a strike, threat ..read more

Canada’s unions are marking Pink Shirt Day 2024 by calling on all governments to support the freedom of trans and queer children and youth to be their authentic selves.  “We care about the well-being of children. We also know that it is tough for kids to feel different from others growing up, and how important it is to feel safe and included at school. Unfortunately, conservative politicians are trying to make it more challenging for kids and youth by undermining the ability of parents, caregivers, educators, and health care providers to support them,” said Bea Bruske, President of the CL ..read more

Ottawa – The labour movement gets to celebrate another victory today with the vote on Bill C-58, the legislation to ban the use of replacement workers. Canada’s unions are happy to see significant progress made on banning replacement workers, a crucial missing piece of Canada’s labour laws for decades. This was made possible by thousands of union activists across the country who stood up and demanded better from the government. This is an important step towards truly protecting workers and their right to strike, this legislation must apply to any work regularly performed by bargaining uni ..read more

“This is a BIG deal. We are very encouraged by the news that the Liberals and New Democrats have reached a deal on pharmacare. This achievement represents the most significant enhancement to our healthcare system since the creation of public healthcare in Canada. It’s a milestone that will profoundly impact the lives of Canadians by making healthcare more accessible and affordable. The urgency of this victory cannot be overstated. With nearly one million Canadians forced to sacrifice basic necessities like food and heating to afford medications, and another million resorting to borrowing money ..read more

OTTAWA—Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, released the following statement: Canadians are witnessing Conservative decision-makers wreak havoc. Rather than addressing the pressing crises of health care, affordability, and climate change, Conservatives across the country are indulging in political games. And who loses? Working-class families. A year after a landmark health care agreement between the federal government and provinces and territories, Conservative premiers have failed to act and failed to care. Canada’s unions are hearing from health care workers who are under p ..read more

By Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, and Chris Severson-Baker, Executive Director of the Pembina Institute as published in the Toronto Star We face an existential climate crisis and a critical moment for our economy. Make no mistake, countries around the world are rapidly moving towards a low-carbon economy. No one is waiting on Canada to get our political house in order, so we can keep up. If we miss the boat today, the opportunity to create good, family-supporting jobs in a low-carbon economy will sail right past us. What Canada does now will determine the kinds of jobs ..read more