Canadian Labour Congress

Great guy.

So wise when it comes to the Canadian Labour Congress.

I know.

He plays a huge hand.

One of the largest rallies against Bill C-39 last week was held in Ottawa.

Rabble.ca interviewed Canadian Labour Congress Executive Vice President Siobhan Vipond at the rally and she said, "...let's not forget in this whole process that over 95% of negotiations end in an agreement and only a few go to a labour dispute.

So they are taking rights away for what is a very small concern." We have labor peace in this country, and we can maintain labor peace, but we will never do that if rights are going to be taken away." And finally, in a column on Rabble, Canadian Women's Chamber of Commerce founder and CEO Nancy Wilson argues that self-employed individuals need a stronger social safety net.

Self-employed workers, who run very small businesses, or simply those working independently, don't have the same access to social supports if their incomes suddenly change.

So I just couldn't be more proud.

Yeah, well, you know what, brother? You should be proud because we pulled off one hell of a rally here recently on the day of action declared by the Canadian Labour Congress here in the St.

John area at MP Wayne Long's office.

And we had roughly 150 people show up at lunchtime to denounce Bill C-39.

There is no definition of what a national interest is, so it's really just whatever the minister says it is from time to time.

So the Canadian Labour Congress last week started some political action, holding protests at several Liberal MPs' offices last Wednesday.

The CLC Executive Committee met last Thursday to assess this, what they're calling Phase 1.

And on October the 20th, there are going to be further meetings to develop a phase two plan and an executive council of the CLC is planned for October the 28th.

You know, unions have expressed their discontent with this legislation.

Whether the Canadian labour movement can fight this legislation in ways that I think will be effective, the Canadian Labour Congress, which is the federation to which most unions are affiliated in Canada, has said that it will take the government to the ILO, the International Labour Organization.

But what is an effective use of labor power, the power of organized labor to beat back these reforms? It could look like mass protests.

It's going to look like calling your local member of parliament and organized campaigns, advocacy campaigns and email campaigns.

Proposed by the Carney government, Bill C-39 will drastically change the Canada Labor Code, allowing the federal government to end strikes and impose contracts on unionized workers.

Unions like the Canadian Labour Congress, CUPE, Unifor, and others rallied in cities across Canada this past week in opposition to Bill C-39.

We are also keeping an eye on the Alberta referendum on the question of separation.

Albertans go to the polls this coming Monday, October 19th, and we are keeping an eye on that.

Yeah, so we're expecting to appear before the committee.

I know Bea Brusk will be speaking to the committee next week on behalf of the Canadian Labour Congress, as will a number of other national union leaders who are based up there in Ottawa.

And they'll be bringing forward their commentary.

And I believe... that we'd be looking for.

This is only a couple days away.

And momentarily, we are going to bring you the CLC Town Hall that we spoke of at the beginning of the show.

So we appreciate you all tuning in.

We ask that you be patient.

We all know that when workers lose power, bosses gain it.

That's why we need everyone on this call to get involved.

I want to start by bringing in CLC Executive Vice President Siobhan to share why we call this national meeting and what we're up against.

Siobhan, over to you.

There have been, as I'm sure we can all appreciate, some objections.

Canadian Labour Congress, people have heard a number of their objections.

President B. Brusk says that on the right to strike, the government broke its promise to workers.

And many law professors have pointed out the Supreme Court, as I said, has never ruled on whether economic harm can justify limiting the right to strike and what the national interest means in this.