Unions, Now more than Ever!

The Canadian Labour Congress will develop a detailed Action Plan to be implemented over the next three years. We will build support for our programs and policies within the labour movement, among elected politicians and with our social partners.

The CLC will mobilize the affiliates, federations and labour councils to lead a broad, diverse and inclusive movement for social change. Our plan of action will include the Women’s Equality Campaign, other issue campaigns, a Better Choice campaign leading into the next federal election, building support for the NDP and the political choice of unions in Quebec, legislative action and municipal campaigns.

We will stand in solidarity with Aboriginal Peoples, including acting to support the demands of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Plan of Action and full equality for First Nations women.

As part of our fight to defend and expand human rights and equality we will fight Bill C-484 and continue to defend women’s right to choose.

We will support all measures needed to sustain Canadian cultural, political and economic sovereignty.

Among the many programs and policies adopted by delegates to the convention, key priorities for immediate action include:

Building and Renewing the Labour Movement

Establish a representative Commission on Structural Review to deal with raiding, phony unions (such as the Christian Labour Association of Canada, CLAC) and the role and structure of central labour bodies.

Establish a Working Committee on Organizing, identify training needs, financial resources, and assist affiliates in developing long term organizing strategies that are responsive to changing demographics, increasing urbanization and the changing nature of the economy. Our goal is to increase union density in Canada.

Work with affiliates, federations and labour councils to undertake a gender and equity audit. Integrate an anti-racism and equity perspective into all of our activities and campaigns.

Prioritize organizing women, young workers, aboriginal workers and workers of colour; fight for secure jobs, decent wages and contracting in provisions in collective agreements.

Work with affiliates, federations and labour councils for key labour law changes such as anti-scab laws, automatic certification and sectoral bargaining and promote labour rights as basic human rights.

Defend the right to free collective bargaining including the right to strike.

Work to build support for Labour Councils.

The Growing Gap and Women’s Economic Equality

Work with anti-poverty and community groups to increase minimum wages, fight for improvements to EI, universal social programs and improved pensions.

Campaign for federal pro-active pay equity legislation to address the gender pay gap.

Fight cuts to women’s organizations and advocacy groups,

Take concrete action to end violence against women.

Demand a comprehensive non-profit pan Canadian child care program;

Co-ordinate Labour Day events with affiliates, federations and labour councils to highlight women’s economic inequality.

Defending and expanding quality public services

Fight privatization, deregulation and public private partnerships in all their forms and fight to expand needed education, social and community services.

Renew our fight to halt privatization of public health care.

Campaign to expand public health care by including pharmacare as a key priority in our political and communications campaigns.

Oppose the deregulation of Canada Post and participate in the strategic review of Canada Post.

Decent Jobs and a Strong and Sustainable Canadian Economy

Mobilize to build mass political support and implementation of our policies to save manufacturing and forestry jobs.

Further develop our vision of a strong, democratic and independent Canadian economy based on re-regulation and expansion of public ownership in the oil industry.

Demand the abrogation of NAFTA and continue to oppose the FTAA, SPP, TILMA, Atlantica, and proposed trade agreements such as those being negotiated with South Korea and Colombia.

Push for domestic procurement programs and infrastructure programs, with a major focus on building community and city support.

Strict enforcement of health and safety legislation; recognize workplace stress as a compensable condition; recognize the right to refuse for psychological reasons; improve working alone protection; press for provincial and territorial compensation boards to expand the range of occupational diseases which are compensable and implement fair policies; promote occupational death and disease registry.

Defend Canadian cultural industries and promote good jobs in the cultural sector.

Fight for the rights of (im)migrant and undocumented workers, their rightful integration into the community and the workforce. Continue to strongly oppose the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

Build a broad coalition including at the community level to better link the goals of good sustainable green jobs, environmental protection and equity: collectively push for a new national energy policy including public regulation and ownership and demand a moratorium on further of the tar sands.

Peace, Development and International Solidarity

Demand that Parliament take immediate steps to end the military occupation of Afghanistan and bring Canadian troops home. Work with affiliates and social justice groups to oppose the military intervention and build solidarity with Afghani workers.

Promote sustainable development and pressure the government to live up to 0.7% of GDP to Official Development Assistance (ODA).

Press for divestment from Burma.

Leaving the Convention with a commitment to work in Solidarity

As we leave this convention and head back to our communities and local unions, let us commit ourselves to continue to work in solidarity to achieve our goals and build a society that meets the needs of working people and their families.