Unifor brought more than 1,500 members and supporters to downtown Vancouver on Aug. 28 to demand stronger action from governments against U.S. tariffs and to call for a sustainable economic strategy for Canadian workers.
Unifor National President Lana Payne told delegates at the rally, held during the union’s Constitutional Convention, that the U.S. trade measures threaten Canadian industries and jobs.
“We are going to do whatever it takes to protect Canadian jobs from destruction from Donald Trump,” Payne said. “This is the fight of our lives. And I want to be very clear – Trump will not win.”
Unifor Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier said workers will continue to resist.
“We will never accept Trump, with his mania and authoritarianism, to kill our country. It’s up to workers again to save our country and to fight, with our sweat, tears and blood,” he said.
Calls for federal action
Delegates chanted “Protect Canadian jobs” outside the Vancouver Convention Centre as they urged Ottawa to stop backpedalling on retaliatory tariffs and demanded governments at all levels defend workers.
Unifor said the tariffs are already causing layoffs and put jobs at risk in multiple sectors.
Support from other unions
Mark Hancock, National President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, pledged support for Unifor.
“Even though we’re primarily private sector, there is no doubt that every step of the way, when you take on that President Trump, when you take on tariffs, when you stand up for Canadian jobs, we will be standing side-by-side with you,” he said.
Sector voices highlight risks
Unifor Auto Council Chair John D’Agnolo referenced the 60th anniversary of the Auto Pact, which required automakers to build vehicles in Canada for every one sold here, saying that shared history could not be undone overnight.
Forestry Council Chair Stéphane Lefebvre warned that 200,000 forestry jobs across the country support hundreds of thousands more, but the sector needs vision and strategy from governments to stay strong.
Unifor describes itself as Canada’s largest private-sector union, representing 320,000 workers across major industries.
