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As Canada’s premiers gather for the Council of the Federation meeting in Whitehorse, Unifor National President Jerry Dias and Regional Directors Joie Warnock, Katha Fortier and Lana Payne are attending parallel labour meetings to ensure workers’ needs are front and centre.
“Labour is uniting to urge the premiers to use their collective power to help our most vulnerable workers, from coast to coast to coast,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “This is about one strong voice to demand solutions that can make life better for all of us”
Along with expanding the CPP and Employment Insurance, a key demand established by labour federations is to have every premier follow Alberta’s lead and pledge to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour.
“Canadians understand how difficult it for those who make minimum wage to survive in any region of the country,” said Western Regional Director Joie Warnock. “Alberta has laid the foundation for a better society, now the premiers of all provinces and territories can help build on it by increasing their respective minimum wage to 15 dollars.”
Labour leaders will also seek the support from all 13 premiers on measures to protect the rights of migrant workers and recommendations to improve Employment Insurance.
“Less than half of all Canadian workers currently qualify for regular EI benefits,” said Atlantic Regional Director Lana Payne. “We need to make sure that the safety net is there when workers need it, and that the delays and failures in the system are addressed.”
Unifor is also using this rare opportunity, to stress the importance of strengthening our health care system.
“The Health Accord between the provinces, territories and the federal government expired years ago,” said Ontario Regional Director Katha Fortier. “The premiers need to demand re-negotiation with Ottawa to safeguard the medical care that Canadians depend upon.”
As Unifor delivers this message in the Yukon, members from across the country are encouraged to lend their voice in a twitter-storm directed at the premiers and to the Federal Minister of Health Jane Philpott. Add your voice to tell the government how it can make life better for all of us.
