TORONTO- The federal fall economic statement, tabled today by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, shows promise but stops short of additional measures needed to ensure economic prosperity and stability for Canada’s workers and their families.

“There are several encouraging items in the statement, including the basic labour protections required for new clean tech and clean hydrogen tax credits and the promise of consultation for additional investments in advanced manufacturing in the 2023 budget,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “However, more must be done to further strengthen these labour protections and to introduce solutions to permanently fix Employment Insurance.”

Canada’s Employment insurance (EI) system failed during the pandemic, creating the need for temporarily measures such as the CERB.

With Minister Freeland indicating an expected economic slowdown with the potential for a recession in the next year, the need for EI reform is pressing. Unifor’s recommendations for EI reform are including in the union’s Build Back Better program.

The federal government did promise that additional investments in Canada’s advanced manufacturing industry are coming in the 2023 budget after stakeholder consultation. Unifor looks forward to consulting on this very topic and providing input based on the union’s auto policy.

Unifor also welcomes the announcement of the permanent elimination of interest on the federal portion of student loans, an enhanced Canada Workers Benefit that will allow more people to qualify while moving to quarterly checks instead of annual and the fast tracking of GST credit checks.

The fall economic statement announced two new tax credits that include some conditions on labour protection. These strings attached have the potential to improve job quality at companies that receive support from the government including tax breaks.

The level of credit will depend on certain labour protection requirements but the details remain unknown. Government is promising to consult with stakeholders, especially unions, to determine how best to attached the labour conditions. Unifor previously presented many ideas on managing corporate support. 

“We look forward to consulting on this to ensure local economic development when government makes important investments,” said Payne.

TORONTO- Unifor joined a media conference with CUPE education workers following a commitment by Premier Ford to fully repeal Bill 28 and return to the bargaining table with education workers.

“The Conservative Government’s Bill 28 took a sledgehammer to the rights of CUPE education workers and all workers. They and all workers said no. This is an important step for the Premier to take to revoke this unprecedented attack on labour rights,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Now, CUPE education workers need a fair collective agreement, and Unifor will be with these workers until they win.”

At the media conference held at the Sheraton Centre in Toronto, CUPE announced a plan to return to work and collapse protest sites on Tuesday, November 8.

“This draconian law was written as a warning to all workers in the province, and all workers responded. Stephen Lecce and Doug Ford started this fight with CUPE education workers but their nasty tactics and complete erosion of labour law meant that instead of just targeting Ontario’s lowest paid education workers, they faced off against Ontario’s entire labour movement,” said Naureen Rizvi, Unifor Ontario Director.

Unifor’s Automotive Council and Independent Parts Suppliers Council wrote to Premier Ford on November 6 demanding a repeal of the bill, and pledging to take action in opposition to the government’s actions.

“If fundamental rights can be taken away from workers without recourse in the public sector then no one’s rights are safe. There is no question that this same tactic could have used here again, and in other provinces. You can be sure that other Conservative premiers are watching our fight closely,” added Payne.