European and Canadian Labour Leaders Stand Together for Workers’ Rights

The CLC says the joint statement was issued ahead of the EU-Canada Summit in Montréal[2]. The unions "call on EU and Canadian leaders to place workers' rights and democracy at the heart of the outcome of the Montreal Summit."[1]The ETUC and CLC say the areas under discussion, from defence and procurement to critical minerals, energy, the Arctic and mobility, "go well beyond" the existing CETA trade agreement[1]. They add that "Labour cannot be marginalized in these discussions."[1]The statement says "Good jobs must be the condition for any preferential treatment,"[1] and this includes freedom of association, collective bargaining and the right to strike[1].On Canada, the unions say the use of section 107, the Labour Code review and Senate recommendations to limit transport strikes risk entrenching this pattern, and they call for its repeal[1]. On the EU, they warn that "deregulation presented as simplification must not erode workers' rights either."[1]The CLC reports that its president, Bea Bruske, warned a parliamentary committee that Bill C-39's proposed powers to end legal strikes could undermine labour stability[2].Separately, The Canadian Press reports that Canada's EU ambassador, Jonathan Wilkinson, said the negotiations do not include a full-scale free labour movement but something more focused[3]. According to The Canadian Press, the summit falls on the 10th anniversary of CETA's signing[3].