Canada’s largest private sector union is pressing prime minister-elect Mark Carney to prioritize job protection and economic resilience in response to escalating U.S. trade disputes.
Unifor congratulated Carney on his election victory Tuesday while emphasizing the urgent need for action as trade tensions with the United States deepen.
“Throughout the campaign, the effects of this U.S.-provoked trade war deepened, with hundreds of thousands of Canadians concerned for their jobs. Now, the real work begins,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Unifor’s plan to build a resilient economy always called for an all-hands approach, and our union will work with the newly-elected government to push for the protection that Unifor industries, our public services, and our country, needs.”
Member concerns
The union conducted extensive voter outreach during the campaign, connecting with members through door-knocking, phone calls and workplace meetings.
“We heard it from members again and again; people are demanding we protect jobs in Quebec and Canada above all else. Now, the response to President Trump, and the necessary economic and political shifts will be the defining mission for this government and for our country over the next several years,” said Unifor Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier.
Policy priorities
Unifor’s campaign focused on several key priorities that the union expects the minority Liberal government to address, including the development of bold industrial policies aimed at building economic resilience and reducing dependency on the U.S. market.
The union also called for enhanced worker support programs to mitigate job losses, maintain employment levels, and expand Employment Insurance benefits for affected workers.
Additional priorities include protecting public healthcare, expanding affordable childcare, addressing intimate partner violence, and tackling housing affordability and homelessness.
Payne emphasized that worker protections must remain a central focus for the new government.
“As this new government turns to face today’s crises, we expect workers’ rights to be upheld by this government, as do our members and unionized workers across this country,” she said.
Unifor represents more than 320,000 members across various economic sectors and advocates for worker rights, social justice and progressive change.
