Many Canadians are not aware of the important contribution that unions like the Canadian Labour Congress and its predecessors made to the history of social progress in Canada. Unions have not only fought many of the battles that have made the Canadian workplace a more comfortable and equitable environment, but have also provided workers with a voice on many issues of national significance.

First Convention of the Canadian
Labour Congress, Toronto.

CLC president addressing Rally
during Murdochville (Gaspé) strike.

Submission by the Canadian Labour Congress to the Honourable Robert Andras Minister of Manpower and Immigration on a New Immigration Policy for Canada (1974)

"...immigrants are woefully ill-informed or misinformed on their rights to transfer from one job to another, the availability of medicare and hospital care, welfare services, unemployment insurance, language instruction and all manner of civic and community services... The immigration information package should explain workers' rights under the various trade union legislation and labour standards codes."

The Canadian Labour Congress Proposal for Pension Reform (1982)

"Society has a responsibility to make sure that arrangements are in place that will allow people to have an active and satisfying period of retirement. It is the least that can be offered to the people who have laid the foundation for Canada's economic prosperity and its political and cultural vibrancy that succeeding generations will enjoy."


Link to the Social Progress Gallery