Latest news with #NewfoundlandandLabradorFederationofLabour
CBC
02-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Labour unions and workers rally in St. John's for International Workers' Day
Union members and student groups marched side by side in downtown St. John's Thursday afternoon to celebrate the workers' movement and demand improvements in workplaces. The rally was part of the annual International Workers' Day, also known as May Day. "May Day has been a day each year where we gather together to talk about the importance of the rights that we have as workers," said Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour president Jessica McCormick. The rally comes in the midst of an international trade war in which U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs are directly impacting Canada's automotive sector and its workers. McCormick says tariffs are top of mind for workers across all industries, and that they're even seeing some employers attempt to roll back collective agreements made with unions because of them. "It's important for workers to mobilize together to talk about why we need to push back and also make gains at the collective bargaining table," said McCormick. A new federal government was also elected earlier this week, with a Liberal minority government led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, who largely positioned himself during his campaign as the solution to tariff threats. McCormick said fear of tariff-induced job losses persuaded people's decision at the ballot box during this election. Despite the threat, she says there's still hope for the labour movement, adding that May Day brings together labour movements across the country. "We have more in common with each other than with the billionaires who try to keep us down," she said. And in Newfoundland and Labrador, McCormick says the labour union is particularly strong, adding that the province has more unionized workers than anywhere else in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, collective bargaining coverage rates were highest among employees in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2023. "We have a proud union movement and a proud union history in Newfoundland and Labrador," she said, referring to William Coaker, who was a historic union leader and politician in the province that led fish harvesters and formed the Fishermen's Protective Union in 1908. But she says there's still more work to do, adding she still hears concerns from workers about violence in the workplace, issues with wages and benefits and lack of access to mental health support. McCormick said she hopes the rally sends a message to newly elected politicians that unions will hold them accountable, and will make sure they prioritize workers as they navigate their relationship with the United States. She also wants workers who aren't unionized to know that there is a place for them in the labour movement. "When we come together … use our strength that we have in our numbers, we can win and we can make a difference in working people's lives."
CBC
28-04-2025
- Health
- CBC
National Day of Mourning for killed workers held at Confederation Building
It's been six years since Terri Murphy got the call that her son Jonathan Murphy, 24, died while working as a pipefitter in Alberta. The accident happened one day after the National Day of Mourning for those killed or injured on the job. "He attended the Day of Mourning event that day," Murphy said. "On [April 29], the day after the Day of Mourning, he was dead as a result of a workplace accident." On Monday, Murphy laid a wreath in Jonathan's memory during a ceremony held at the Confederation Building in St. John's to mark the tragic occasion. "Jon was working his dream job as a pipefitter," she said. "This was the last day of their work rotation. Jonathan was flying home at 5:30 p.m. with hopes of buying his first home the next day." Murphy lost her son just hours before he was supposed to fly home. "Jonathan was pronounced dead at 3:10 p.m.," she said. "All of our dreams for Jonathan. Gone." According to WorkplaceNL, 26 people in the province lost their lives while working in 2024 — an increase of 11 people compared to 2023 numbers. The theme of this year's National Day of Mourning is workers demanding action on invisible injuries and hazards. CUPE 1560 president Greg Rockwood said the public must broaden its understanding of what it means to be safe at work. "Not all dangers and hazards can be seen, and not all wounds leave scars that we can touch," he said. "Mental health challenges. Chronic stress, Toxic workplace cultures and occupational PTSD are just as real and just as life-altering as physical injuries." Jessica McCormick, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour, is calling on the provincial government and WorkplaceNL to make health and safety records more transparent. "In Newfoundland and Labrador, the health and safety records of employers are kept out of the public eye, unlike in other parts of the country, and this needs to change," McCormick said. While corporations can be held criminally liable for workplace deaths and injuries, she said, few charges are laid, and when they are, major corporations can easily pay the fines. "When criminal negligence leads to death, people must be held accountable," she said. The federation is also calling for the establishment of an occupational health clinic to help workers manage, prevent, and respond to occupational illnesses.
CBC
03-04-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
Latest Trump tariffs won't have 'enormous impact' on N.L, says business professor
Workers in Newfoundland and Labrador seem to be safe for now from U.S. President Donald Trump's latest round of tariffs, according to one Memorial University professor. Trump's 25 per cent tariff on all foreign automobiles comes into effect Thursday morning– essentially ensuring that manufacturing happens solely in the United States, according to business professor Tom Cooper. Cooper said luckily for this province, Newfoundland and Labrador does not manufacture automobiles or their parts. "We have some companies that sell into car companies– more predominantly software, maybe some services," Cooper told CBC News. "There's not an enormous impact versus a lot of our other more traditional industries." The White House said that new tariff will apply to Canadian-made passenger vehicles, but there is a caveat — it will only be levied on the value of all non-U.S. content in that automobile. Cooper said the tariff will have a bigger impact on automotive workers in provinces like Ontario. But, he said, consumers in this province might feel the fallout in regards to the prices of new cars. "[For] existing stock, the prices are already set, but new stock may reflect the increased tariff prices," he said. Trump also announced a 10 per cent "baseline tariff" on all goods coming into the United States. However, the White House said Canada will not be subjected to that additional baseline tariff rate because the previously announced border-related tariffs will continue to apply instead. N.L. spared from impact of latest U.S. tariffs, but price of new cars may rise 36 minutes ago Duration 1:39 Though Canada has been spared from those levies, Cooper said there remains a threat of additional tariffs. That anxiety was also felt by Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour president Jessica McCormick, who spoke to CBC News from Ottawa Wednesday evening. From her perspective, Wednesday's announcement didn't change anything. Just because the province largely won't feel the effects of the automotive tariff, she said that doesn't mean Newfoundland and Labrador is out of the woods. With both federal and provincial elections on the horizon, McCormick said the next wave of political leaders need to "be bold" about shifting away from dependence on the U.S., and must bolster local industries. "We need a more modern employment insurance system that is responsive to the needs of today's workers," McCormick said. "It's about making sure that workers are at the table in Newfoundland and Labrador." Trump's negative remarks about Canada and his use of a large sign to explain his reciprocal tariffs on other countries "speaks to the level of chaos that we're going to be dealing with," said McCormick. She added that Canadian workers won't be the only ones affected by these economic measures. "What hasn't been acknowledged from the White House is how these tariffs will impact workers and hurt working people on both sides of the border," McCormick said.
