Unifor is urging the federal government to implement stronger measures to protect Canadian workers from job losses caused by U.S. tariffs, warning that current supports fall short of what is needed to address the crisis.
The private-sector union said recent enhancements to Canada’s Work-Sharing Program are a positive step but do not go far enough to shield workers from layoffs and industry instability.
“Workers in Canada are suffering under Trump’s extortionist and unjustified tariff attacks through mass layoffs, workplace closures and constant insecurity. Right now, they need all the support they can get from their governments,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Better access to Work-Sharing is one useful tool in this trade war, but it doesn’t meet the moment of crisis workers are in.”
The federal government announced temporary flexibilities to the Work-Sharing Program on Thursday, expanding access and extending the maximum agreement duration. Unifor is calling for additional measures, including emergency wage subsidies, cash flow supports for affected industries, and more accessible Employment Insurance (EI) benefits to offset lost income, particularly for workers in high-wage, trade-exposed sectors.
The union also wants federal and provincial governments to explore targeted tariff mitigation strategies, such as bridge subsidies for early retirement and income supplements for workers pursuing training or education.
“Trump’s tariff threats have caused incredible insecurity and instability, and workers are already feeling the effects,” said Payne. “We cannot wait to act. Now is the time for Canada to act boldly and decisively to protect Canada’s economy and all working people.”
Unifor has called for a broader response that includes retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports, strategic management of Canada’s natural resources, and “Buy Canadian” public procurement policies to counter restrictive U.S. trade measures. The union argues that Canada must match the total value of U.S. tariffs with its own countermeasures but should have flexibility in how those tariffs are applied to maximize economic leverage.
In addition to industry-specific supports, Unifor is pushing for long-term policy changes to strengthen Canada’s manufacturing and resource-processing capacities. The union says Canada should invest in domestic processing of critical minerals, aluminum, wood products, and other natural resources to reduce reliance on U.S. markets and create more high-value jobs within the country.
