May Day is upon us again! May 1^st is the day to celebrate major wins for unions as a whole. Take a second to appreciate the 8-hour workday, weekends, maternity/paternity leave, and any other privileges we’ve fought for collectively!

This is also an open invitation to attend the Vancouver District Labour Council May Day Rally.

May Day Rally

May 01, 2023 at
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM PST

Vancouver City Hall

453 West 12th Avenue

Vancouver, BCV5Y 1V4

Join us for a rally at Vancouver City Hall on May 1st, International Workers’ Day!

In Solidarity,

Katie Poch, Organizing Director

With contract negotiations at an impasse and a resolution unlikely before tomorrow evening, more than 100,000 members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) are set to strike beginning Wednesday, April 19.

These are workers from across the public service; cleaners and cooks on military bases, clerks and maintenance workers, tradespeople, Coast Guard search and rescue teams, teachers, firefighters, and workers who process employment insurance, passport applications and immigration documents. In essence, without these workers, Canada does not work.

The employer, the Treasury Board of Canada, has yet to come up with offers that are suitable to the union’s demands. PSAC wants wage increases that keep up with inflation, increased job security, an end to systemic racism in the workplace, enshrining work from home, and no more contracting out and privatizing of public service work.

The PSAC Strike and CUPW

Why should CUPW members care?

The federal government is Canada’s largest employer, with more than 330,000 employees. The standards set at the federal level are a gravitational field that lift or drop the offers of every other employer in the country.

Since the pandemic, wages have not kept pace with inflation, and the only sectors seeing real wage growth are retail and food services, almost entirely low paying and non-union jobs. With 35,000 Canada Revenue Agency employees also ready to strike as tax filings are due, the time is ripe to pressure the feds and for workers to make real gains.

What Can you Do?

What happens with this strike will set a precedent for other federal workers, including us at CUPW. Stand in solidarity with striking PSAC workers and show support by showing up to a picket line. Use the map in the link below to find one nearest you (note that you cannot attend picket lines during your work hours).https://workerscantwait.ca/

In Solidarity,

Roland Schmidt
3rd National Vice-President

Ryan Lum
Union Representative, External Organizing

2019 – 2023 / Bulletin no 450
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The National Day of Mourning, held annually on April 28, is dedicated to remembering those who have lost their lives or suffered injury or illness at work. This annual event was initiated by the labour movement 38 years ago to increase awareness of on-the-job injuries and fatal workplace accidents. This day of remembrance was officially recognized by the federal government in 1991, more than six years after it was launched by the Canadian Labour Congress in 1985. This year’s theme is “Workers’ Resources, Rights and Victories”.

Although the National Day of Mourning is now recognized in more than 100 countries, including Canada there is still a lot to accomplish in order to improve the safety of workers. In 2021, the latest year for which statistics are available, 1,081 workers were fatally injured at work. The vast majority of them (1,009) were men. In addition to these fatalities, 277,217 lost time claims were granted in Canada.

In 2021, the latest year for which statistics are available, 1,081 workers were fatally injured at work. The vast majority of them (1,009) were men. In addition to these fatalities, 277,217 lost time claims were granted in Canada.

After the last three years during which it was difficult to gather, we finally have a chance to gather in person and reflect together across the country.

For more information on the events across the country, please contact your provincial federation of labour or visit the Canadian Labour Congress webpage:http://www.canadianlabour.ca/

As in previous years, we have asked the Corporation to fly the Canadian flag at half-mast and observe a minute of silence during every shift on April 28. CPC has agreed to this request and has advised us that a national communication regarding the Day of Mourning will be sent shortly to all managers across the country.

On this National Day of Mourning, it is important that, wherever we are, we take the time to remember our brothers, sisters and friends who died, suffered injuries or became disabled at work. We must all commit to continuing the struggle to force employers and governments to fulfill their obligation to make every workplace a safe and healthy one. We must also continue seeking stronger health and safety standards and protection, and better enforcement in our workplaces.

AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL!

In solidarity,

Marc Roussel
National Union Representative
Health and Safety

MR/fc- sepb 225 /scfp1979