Canada’s largest unions from both public and private sectors have joined forces to urge the federal government to protect Canadian workers amid escalating trade tensions with the United States.
Unifor and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing more than one million workers across the country, issued a joint statement Monday calling for immediate government action to mitigate the economic damage caused by ongoing trade disputes initiated by the U.S. administration.
“We call on all levels of government to stand up for Canadian workers in these extremely challenging economic times,” the unions said in their joint statement.
The unions argue that Canada’s response to the trade conflict must reject outdated economic strategies that have historically resulted in lower wages, job cuts, factory closures, and privatization of essential services.
Call for Canadian-made procurement strategy
A key recommendation from the unions is the development of a robust “Made-in-Canada” procurement strategy. Unifor and CUPE suggest that municipal, provincial, and federal governments coordinate to prioritize domestic products and services, which would bolster local industries and maintain job stability.
They also stressed the need for strong worker protections, advocating for expanded Employment Insurance (EI) benefits and workplace supports designed to keep employees on payrolls despite economic uncertainties.
Investment needed in transportation sector
The joint statement highlighted significant vulnerabilities in Canada’s transportation sector due to prolonged privatization and under-investment.
The unions called for substantial public investment in air, rail, and transit infrastructure, emphasizing that improved reliability and job quality in these critical sectors are essential for the country’s economic resilience.
Strengthening public services
The statement also stressed the importance of maintaining robust public services, including post-secondary education, childcare, and social programs, during economic downturns. CUPE and Unifor emphasized that these services create local jobs and provide critical support to communities.
They pointed to Canada’s existing healthcare system, calling for continued expansion of national pharmacare and dental care plans as essential components of public health infrastructure.
Rejecting privatization of infrastructure
Privatization of public infrastructure was strongly opposed by the unions, who warned it should not be part of Canada’s economic response to current trade challenges. They advocate for increased public infrastructure investments, arguing it is crucial to maintaining equitable access and economic stability nationwide.
Supporting Canadian media and telecommunications
The unions underscored the importance of protecting Canadian media and telecommunications sectors, calling for an end to outsourcing practices. They emphasized the need to preserve and expand employment in media industries to safeguard independent journalism and foster an affordable, domestically-controlled telecommunications sector.
Cautious approach to inter-provincial trade
While exploring expanded inter-provincial trade was acknowledged as potentially beneficial, the unions cautioned against deregulation that could weaken labour rights, including union protections, workplace health, and safety standards.
The unions’ collective vision highlights secure employment and fair wages for both public and private sector workers, positioning this as the foundation for a more resilient and inclusive economy.
Unifor represents approximately 320,000 members employed in industries such as auto manufacturing, aerospace, forestry, media, telecommunications, energy, mining, and transportation.
CUPE, Canada’s largest union, represents over 750,000 members working in education, healthcare, emergency services, municipalities, transportation, childcare, and social services.
