January 21, 2025

WASHINGTON— Unifor warns that Canada must act to protect workers and Canadian jobs amid the continued threat of U.S. tariffs in the Trump era.
“The looming tariff threat serves as a real wake up call on the need to mitigate the risk to Canadian workers,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
President Trump indicated that he may move ahead with a 25 per cent across-the-board tariff on Canadian goods as soon as February 1, 2025.
“The reality is that Trump could impose punishing tariffs at any time while continuing to make demands for concessions from Canada. This intentional strategy of constant chaos and the mere threat of tariffs is damaging to jobs, investment and our economy,” said Payne. “Canada has to do a number of things to make sure that it’s prepared to respond to that threat on February 1 or at any time during Trump’s presidency. We must initiate policies to shore up worker protections and industries.”
Payne, appointed to the Prime Minister’s Council on Canada-U.S. Relations and a member of the industry-led Canada U.S. Trade Council, joined Canadian stakeholders at the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C. on inauguration day to advocate for Canadian workers.
Unifor outlined pre-emptive actions in a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau, including enhanced income supports for workers to prepare for a potential rise in unemployment with improved access to Employment Insurance benefits and other special income assistance programs. Better management of strategic national resources through industrial policy and the establishment of reciprocal procurement policies for U.S. suppliers with leveraging of public purchasing for industrial development.
In the event of U.S. tariffs, the union recommends targeted and strategic tariff retaliation and emergency relief programs to mitigate risk of layoff and sustain companies in their operations.
“Unifor has been clear that a 25% tariff would be devastating to both Canadian and American workers,” added Payne. “We cannot afford to let down our guard and taking proactive measures to protect Canadian jobs just makes sense.”

January 23, 2025

 

Today marks eight years since the tragic events of January 29, 2017, when an Islamophobic and racist act of violence took the lives of six worshippers at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec.

We remember the six individuals whose lives were senselessly taken: Ibrahima Barry, Mamadou Tanou Barry, Khaled Belkacemi, Abdelkrim Hassane, Azzedine Soufiane, and Aboubaker Thabti. On this solemn day of remembrance, Unifor stands in solidarity with Muslim communities, including the survivors of this attack, to honor the lives lost to this horrifying violence.

This day is especially important as we continue to witness an alarming rise of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim violence during a time of increased conflict.

Canada’s Senate Committee on Human Rights reports that rampant Islamophobia in Canada is costing Canadian Muslims their wellbeing and even their lives—and these issues have a dire impact on our communities, workplaces, and our society.

On many fronts, labour unions have an important role in building a stronger sense of safety and belonging for Muslim workers. We do so through collective bargaining, demanding that employers collaborate with us to foster more safe and equitable workplaces, and by enforcing better policies to protect all people, regardless of their religion.

As workers committed to social justice, equality, and the fundamental rights of all individuals, we strongly denounce Islamophobia in all its forms.

Education is our most powerful tool in the fight against hate. Unifor calls for the inclusion of anti-Islamophobia education in school curricula, workplaces, and community programs. By working together to instill understanding and tolerance, we can create a society where acts of violence cease to exist.

As we reflect on the devastating brutality of that day, we must also reflect on ways we can each take concrete action against Islamophobia.

Let us stand united against all forms of hatred.

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