News
2021 Budget
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BUDGET 2021: Universal child care, $15 minimum wage, but something’s missing Since the start of this pandemic, we have been vocal in the fight to move Canada forward together. Thanks to the efforts of folks like you, the federal government announced significant investments towards our priorities in this budget. These priorities include: ⇨ A national, high-quality, public, accessible early learning and child care system; And finally -- at long last -- a $15 federal minimum wage. But we are disappointed the government missed an opportunity to move forward on pharmacare. Millions of Canadians were struggling to pay for prescriptions before this pandemic. Things have only gotten worse for workers who have lost their jobs and benefits. It is not too late for this government to get it right on pharmacare. Send Ottawa a strong message today: https://canadianplan.ca/pharmacare-now/ Our fight for pharmacare won’t end here. A fair and prosperous Canada includes a national, universal pharmacare plan. Stay strong, Standing up for workers and their families
Grey Bruce Labour Council |
BUDGET 2021: Universal child care, $15 minimum wage, but something’s missing
BUDGET 2021: Universal child care, $15 minimum wage, but something’s missing.
Since the start of this pandemic, we have been vocal in the fight to move Canada forward together.
Thanks to the efforts of folks like you, the federal government announced significant investments towards our priorities in this budget.
These priorities include:
⇨ A national, high-quality, public, accessible early learning and child care system;
⇨ Green jobs and a plan to get people who lost their job back to work;
⇨ Support for low wage and racialized workers; and
⇨ Strengthening Employment Insurance & changes to improve labour standards.
And finally -- at long last -- a $15 federal minimum wage.
But we are disappointed the government missed an opportunity to move forward on pharmacare.
Millions of Canadians were struggling to pay for prescriptions before this pandemic. Things have only gotten worse for workers who have lost their jobs and benefits.
It is not too late for this government to get it right on pharmacare. Send Ottawa a strong message today: https://canadianplan.ca/pharmacare-now/
Our fight for pharmacare won’t end here. A fair and prosperous Canada includes a national, universal pharmacare plan.
Stay strong,
Standing up for workers and their families
Grey Bruce Labour Council Day of Mourning Press Release
Grey Bruce Labour Council-For Immediate Release
Day of Mourning-April 25th, 2021
Locked down again, yet there is an absolute need to observe the annual Day of Mourning for workers killed, injured and made ill in their places of work and because of their workplaces this April 28th. “There is a difference between workers killed, injured and made ill in their workplaces and because of their workplaces,” says Grey Bruce Labour Council Secretary, Amy Stephen. “Before the vast number of COVID-19 tragedies in workplaces, it was not uncommon to see annual Ontario workplace deaths quoted between fifty and one hundred. This is only part of the story and often equates to situations such as falls from heights with immediate and tragic outcomes. Not told in this scandalously low number are the hundreds of deaths each year as a result of disease associated with exposure to chemicals and carcinogens in the workplace. Now, add the scores of deaths connected to COVID-19, and stopping to observe and remember those lost to workplace carnage and death in Ontario and around the world is absolutely required.”
“For decades the Grey Bruce Labour Council, with our affiliates, community and corporate partners have ensured that April 28th is observed across our two-county region. If it were not for the Canadian Labour Movement in CUPE and the Canadian Labour Congress pushing the need for this day over 30 years ago, along with organizations like labour councils and their affiliates and allies, it is most unlikely that any day or time would have been set aside to observe and remember our colleagues, sisters, brothers, friends, family and loved ones lost to the daily toll of working for a living,” says Grey Bruce Labour Council President, Kevin Smith.
“The global pandemic has not stopped falls, electrocutions, burns, illness like occupational cancer, workplace violence and needless exposure to hazardous chemicals,” notes Grey Bruce Labour Council VP for Grey, Chris Stephen.
Grey Bruce Labour Council VP for Bruce, Dave Trumble, says that, “workplace horror stories we have come to know before COVID-19 are reason enough to stop and commit to what every Day of Mourning demands of us. To Fight for the Living and Mourn for the Dead! The catastrophic numbers as a result of COVID-19 in workplaces, in addition to all that has been recounted, means that we must stop this year and every year going forward to make sure that the call to duty, Fight for the Living, is never far from our thoughts and that there will never be a step back when it comes to health and safety.”
Anna Morrison, Grey Bruce Labour Council Sergeant at Arms, recounts, “that our labour council is profoundly fortunate to have at the table educators, education support workers, healthcare workers, public service such as utility and corrections workers along with private and public sector workers from both provincial and federal jurisdictions. In this powerhouse cross section of workers, the Grey Bruce Labour Council continues to make sure that the annual Day of Mourning in 2021 will be observed and will be observed for all time as we go forward and hopefully past the global pandemic one day. There will be a time when there will be no memory of a time when we did not stop to Fight for the Living and to Mourn for the Dead.”
Chris Stephen asks, “that no matter where you are and no matter how limited the ability because of our lockdown, that each of us takes a moment to observe and remember and to look for virtual observances such as those that will be made available by the labour council and labour in general.”
Grey Bruce Labour Council Day of Mourning messages
https://greybrucelabour.wordpress.com/2021/04/25/grey-bruce-labour-council-vp-bruce-county-message-day-of-mourning-2021/?fbclid=IwAR00rA9PEvRKXTxOa_E4SUAAKCqM-DPZ_zemQebR63J__7SqwuB1eSAmPWU
Day of Mourning, Calling for Paid Sick Days
Subject: Day of Mourning: We’re calling for paid sick days
Preview: Sign up for a live training on paid sick days on April 28. We need you there.
Canada’s unions are honouring the lives of workers who were killed or injured on the job in the week leading up to April 28, Canada’s National Day of Mourning.
Frontline and essential workers were told they were heroes for helping Canada’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. But here we are -- still fighting for paid sick days -- a year after the pandemic began.
Canada’s decision-makers aren’t listening. That stops now.
It’s not enough to just organize offline anymore, especially during a pandemic. We need to use digital tools to meet people where they are at, engage them, and mobilize them to take action.
Join CLC’s Saskatchewan Representative, Deanna Ogle, on Wednesday, April 28 at 7 pm Eastern Time to learn how to use phone banking to engage supporters to fight for paid sick leave, better wages and more. We'll practice making phone calls for the Day of Mourning.
[BUTTON TEXT]: RSVP today!
As we mourn for the dead, the fight for the living must continue. We need you to join that fight.
Get started by RSVPing today:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwvfuispjkiH9OgY5-SoAxRQ6L3fWzAMuBP
Hope to see you there,
Standing up for workers and their families