Canadian Labour Congress

Missed Opportunity to Push Pause on Rate Hikes and Put People First

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 7, 2022
Bank, Canadian Labour Congress, Government, Bank of Canada, Risk, Policy, Congress, EI, Unemployment benefits, Bruske, Renewable energy

“Economists have urged the Bank of Canada to let the impact of previous rate hikes take hold before taking further action that could risk causing a damaging recession.

Key Points: 
  • “Economists have urged the Bank of Canada to let the impact of previous rate hikes take hold before taking further action that could risk causing a damaging recession.
  • It’s regrettable the Bank of Canada rejected that advice,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress.
  • “Moving ahead on another rate hike today could mean hundreds of thousands of workers losing their jobs and families losing their homes.
  • There is a better way.”
    Canada’s unions, alongside several prominent economists, have been urging Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem to take a pause on further rate hikes until the effects of previous hikes could be determined.

Canada’s Unions Applaud The Introduction of Federal Paid Sick Leave

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 1, 2022
COVID-19, Congress, Canadian Labour Congress, Sick leave, Public health, Legislation, Government, Bruske, Health insurance

OTTAWA, Dec. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canada’s unions are pleased to see new legislation making ten days of paid sick leave available for all workers in federally-regulated private-sector workplaces come into effect today. Access to paid sick leave is a critical tool to keep our communities and workplaces safe.

Key Points: 
  • OTTAWA, Dec. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadas unions are pleased to see new legislation making ten days of paid sick leave available for all workers in federally-regulated private-sector workplaces come into effect today.
  • Providing paid sick leave for private-sector workers in federal jurisdiction is a positive step forward allowing workers to stay home when sick will result in better public health outcomes.
  • This reform will not only provide paid sick days to many workers who previously lacked them, but will also improve paid sick leave for other workers in the federal jurisdiction who will now see their number of paid sick days increase to meet the minimum standard.
  • While Canadas unions welcome paid sick leave for federally-regulated workers, they will continue fighting for paid sick leave for all workers.

Canada’s Unions Welcome New Protections for Workers’ Pensions

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Workplace, John White (Liberal MP), Bankruptcy, Pension, Legislation, House, Canada (House of Commons) v Vaid, Commons, SEARS, Congress, Liberal, Canadian Labour Congress, Senate, Crumbs, Bruske, Insurance, Health insurance, Pension fund, Nortel

OTTAWA, Nov. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadas unions are happy to see Bill C-228 passed in the House of Commons today.

Key Points: 
  • OTTAWA, Nov. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadas unions are happy to see Bill C-228 passed in the House of Commons today.
  • Pensions are earned and paid for by workers, and that money belongs to them.
  • Canadas unions are now asking senators to act urgently and pass this bill.
  • Bill C-228 will provide crucial protections for workers across the country in the event that their employer declares bankruptcy.

Bank of Canada’s Continuous Rate Hike is Not Slowing Down Inflation

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 17, 2022
GDP, Heart, Corporation, Bank, Policy, Long-term care, Face, Government, Bank of Canada, Parliament, Child care, Congress, Canadian Labour Congress, Investment, Cryptocurrency, Agriculture

OTTAWA, Nov. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canada’s inflation rate held at 6.9 per cent in October, despite the Bank of Canada’s aggressive interest rate increases, while workers across Canada continue to see their cost of living rise. 

Key Points: 
  • OTTAWA, Nov. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadas inflation rate held at 6.9 per cent in October, despite the Bank of Canadas aggressive interest rate increases, while workers across Canada continue to see their cost of living rise.
  • Big corporations are cashing in all-time high profits while Canadians face the worst food retail inflation in four decades with grocery prices jumping 11.4 per cent.
  • The Bank of Canadas single-minded pursuit of the inflation target is not the only way, we have proof of that today.
  • Since inflation first broke through the Bank of Canada in March 2021, the average hourly wages have continuously lagged behind price inflation.

Fall Economic Statement: Canada’s Unions Welcome New Investments

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Leadership, Face, Investment, Canadian Labour Congress, Child care, Automotive Supplier Innovation Program, GLOBE, Congress, Government, Unemployment benefits, Long-term care, European Union Training Mission in Somalia, Movement, Statement, EI, Carbon, Renewable energy, Audit, Bruske

OTTAWA, Nov. 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadas unions applaud the announced investment in workers, sustainable jobs and training that will help equip workers with the skills they need to meet the challenges of Canadas economic future.

Key Points: 
  • OTTAWA, Nov. 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadas unions applaud the announced investment in workers, sustainable jobs and training that will help equip workers with the skills they need to meet the challenges of Canadas economic future.
  • Investments in sustainable jobs and training are vital to ensure Canada meets is climate goals, while realizing the economic opportunities of the sustainable energy economy.
  • Canadas unions also welcome additional income supports, while continuing to call for a much wider reform of the Employment Insurance (EI) system.
  • Although new measures to support workers are welcome, the government missed an opportunity to fix Canadas outdated EI program, said Bruske.

Media Advisory: Canadian Labour Congress President Bea Bruske Available to Speak on Fall Economic Update

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 2, 2022
Government, Canadian Labour Congress, CLC, Disease, Housing, GLOBE, Inflation, EI, GDP, Bruske, Work, Investment, Congress, Food, Center

OTTAWA, Nov. 02, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, is available to talk about what the Canadas unions expect to hear from Minister Freeland in Thursdays fall economic update.

Key Points: 
  • OTTAWA, Nov. 02, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, is available to talk about what the Canadas unions expect to hear from Minister Freeland in Thursdays fall economic update.
  • Recently, the CLC and Centre for Future Work released a report, A Cure Worse than the Disease?
  • Toward a More Balanced Understanding of Inflation and What to Do About It, which highlights the increasing inequality between workers and corporations.
  • The pandemic has shown us a gap in our care systems and we are now facing a care crisis in Canada, said Bruske.

CLC: Bank of Canada Determined to Push the Economy Into a Recession, No Matter the Impact on Canadians

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Congress, Government, Policy, Bruske, Center, Paycheck, Bank, GLOBE, Woman, GDP, Bank of Canada, Time, Canadian Labour Congress, Uranium

The Bank of Canada is determined to push the economy into a recession, no matter the impact on individual Canadians who could lose their jobs, their homes and their quality of life.

Key Points: 
  • The Bank of Canada is determined to push the economy into a recession, no matter the impact on individual Canadians who could lose their jobs, their homes and their quality of life.
  • Rising interest rates make debt more expensive at a time when workers across the country are struggling from paycheque to paycheque.
  • The report explains the shortcomings of the Bank of Canadas interest rate hikes and explores the economic costs of a recession.
  • Canadas unions are calling on the Bank of Canada to pause interest rate hikes until the impact of previous policy interventions is clear.

NEW REPORT URGES RATE HIKE PAUSE TO SAVE WORKERS' JOBS

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Inflation, Congress, Government, Disease, Woman, CLC, Policy, Bank, Unemployment, Bank of Canada, Center, Canadian Labour Congress, Bruske, Heart, Textbook, Renewable energy, Agriculture

Toward a More Balanced Understanding of Inflation and What to Do About It", explains the shortcomings of the Bank of Canada's interest rate hikes and explores the economic costs of a recession.

Key Points: 
  • Toward a More Balanced Understanding of Inflation and What to Do About It", explains the shortcomings of the Bank of Canada's interest rate hikes and explores the economic costs of a recession.
  • The paper concludes by proposing policy alternatives for the Bank of Canada and the government to take in response to high inflation.
  • "We appear to be using a decades-old monetary policy textbook to solve 2022's economic crisis.
  • We need a pause to save Canadian jobs."

Statement by Bea Bruske: We must work to avoid a recession that would put many working families at risk

Retrieved on: 
Friday, September 23, 2022
Government of Canada, Conservatism, Canadian Labour Congress, Employment, Woman, Policy, Bank of Canada, NDP, Government, Â, Bank, Quality of life, GLOBE, Medicine, Congress, Disease, Fair, Insurance

OTTAWA, Sept. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, released the following statement after meeting between the Bank of Canada Governor and a delegation of representatives of the labour movement:

Key Points: 
  • By continuing to press for lower wages, the Bank risks overstepping their role of communicating policy and instead takes on the role of business consultant.
  • We raised concerns about the Banks rapid monetary tightening pushing our economy into a recession, with potentially devastating impacts on everyday people.
  • A recession would mean thousands of Canadians thrown out of work and downward pressure on wages that are already lagging well behind inflation.
  • We would see substantial damage to peoples quality of life and risk long-lasting economic harm for workers and their families.

CLC: Parliament Must Act Urgently to Make Sure Workers Aren’t Left Behind

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 21, 2022
Canadian Labour Congress, Liberal, Woman, Government, Bruske, Conservatism, EI, New Democrats, Parliament, Food, Employment, Pierre Poilievre, GLOBE, Congress, Member of parliament, Unemployment benefits, Housing, Health insurance

Unless MPs and the government take action this week, the EI program will revert to the old pre-COVID rules, leaving thousands unable to access benefits.

Key Points: 
  • Unless MPs and the government take action this week, the EI program will revert to the old pre-COVID rules, leaving thousands unable to access benefits.
  • Precarious workers, many of them women and racialized workers, would be hit hardest, said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress.
  • Reverting EI back to Harper-era rules will mean thousands of workers are unable to access help, just when they need it most.
  • Pierre Poilievre has a record of cuts to health care, cuts to support to the unemployed, and attacks on workers.