BC Federation of Labour

06/19/2026

Congratulations, Cohort 11 — and thank you! This is some of the BC Centre for Women in the Trades' most important work: helping to build safe, inclusive work environments.

Congratulations to our Show Up for Safer Workplaces Cohort 11 for having completing our training in Chilliwack in May!

Much appreciation to UFV Trades & Technology for their partnership — including providing classroom space and the fantastic trades facilities tour — and to Tailgate Toolkit for joining us to share their expertise with the group.

Thank you for your commitment to building a community that will help people recognize and support mental health and substance use concerns, prevent toxic workplace culture, and become active partners in creating healthier and more stable work environments.

Our Fall and Winter calendar is about to be announced! Apply today to be notified of the dates and to secure a limited spot for this FREE training: https://bccwitt.ca/showup

06/19/2026

June 18, 1935: More than a thousand striking longshore workers and their supporters marched to Vancouver's Ballantyne Pier, where the bosses — the Shipping Federation — had brought in strikebreakers.

There to meet them: hundreds of well-armed police officers. They were there to keep the workers not only from confronting the strikebreakers, but even from picketing.

Faced with the certain threat of violence and injury, the workers refused to turn back.

The police attacked. For three hours, the workers were brutally clubbed, tear-gassed and even shot at. Dozens were injured, many of them hospitalized.

To some, that looked like a defeat. But the courage of those workers inspired longshore workers to fight on for an independent union and a hiring hall — and a decade later, they had both.

Today, that union, ILWU Canada, marked the 91st anniversary of that bloody struggle. Hermender, a longtime ILWU member, was honoured to join the workers and supporters in attendance.

"Their story has become our story — and their strength can become our strength," he said. "Today we’re confronting employers every bit as arrogant and powerful as the bosses calling the shots in 1935."

But, he added, "This is the thing that corporations want you to forget at all costs — the thing that Ballantyne Pier reminds us 91 years later: Workers divided are helpless. Workers united... are the strongest force in human history."

06/18/2026

It's so great to see this kind of support from Community Savings Credit Union for the The Union Protein Project! We're proud to be members — maybe you should be too!

Community Savings was proud to launch our partnership with The Union Protein Project (UPP) at their 20th Annual General Meeting. Raj Khunkhun, Chief Growth Officer, and Peter Radonjic, Burnaby Branch Manager, were on hand to officially introduce the partnership.

The Union Protein Project is a union-led organization that brings together labour and community partners to provide high-quality protein to food banks, helping tackle food insecurity across our communities.

Together, we’ve introduced a Banking with Purpose offer: UPP supporters can receive $200 when opening a new account—and we’ll match it with a $200 donation to UPP.

It’s a simple way to enjoy top-rated banking while helping make a meaningful difference where it’s needed most.

Learn more about this exciting offer: https://campaigns.comsavings.com/UPPbonus/


MoveUPUSW District 3New Westminster & District Labour CouncilVancouver & District Labour CouncilFraser Valley District Council - FVDCScott LunnyHospital Employees' UnionBCGEU
IBEW 213Public Service Alliance of Canada - BC RegionUSW Local 2009Federation of Post-Secondary Educators

06/17/2026

Our members have been working on the early construction works of the Massey Tunnel Replacement. This project will provide family-sustaining jobs for thousands of skilled trades workers and an essential new crossing for people and businesses across the region. The retendering of the final construction phase of the project will provide an opportunity for local contractors to participate in building this critical project and maximize the benefits to local communities.

06/15/2026

It's disturbing to read the International Trade Union Confederation - ITUC's newly updated Global Rights Index (https://www.ituc-csi.org/ituc-global-rights-index-2026). It rates Canada as having regular violations of workers' fundamental rights, including the right to organize and bargain collectively.

That's especially alarming given last week's Senate report that recommends harsh new limits on workers' Charter-recognized right to strike at ports and on railways.

Working people are the backbone of our economy. The last thing we need is yet another attack on workers' rights.

06/15/2026

This weekend was the 40th annual Miners Memorial Weekend - Cumberland, B.C., a commemoration of the more than 300 workers killed in some of Canada's most dangerous coal mines. Many, many more were injured or made sick. The terrible conditions they faced helped launch a legendary movement for workers' justice — ensuring Cumberland a major place in labour history.

Our heartfelt thanks to Victoria Labour Council President Kirk Mercer for bringing greetings on behalf of Sussanne Skidmore and the BCFED. And thanks to Cumberland Museum and Archives and the Campbell River, Courtenay and District Labour Council for hosting this event every year.

06/12/2026

WOW. The unelected senators on the Committee on Transport and Communications want to take away the Charter labour rights of thousands of rail and marine workers!

Let them know they're on the wrong track right now! https://canadianlabour.ca/campaigns/protect-the-right-to-strike/

06/12/2026

Big news for gig workers, as the International Labour Organization sets the first-ever global standards protecting them!

Historic win for workers! 🎉

Today, the International Labour Organization adopted the world's first global labour standards for platform and gig workers.

For too long, app-based workers have faced low pay, unsafe conditions, lack of benefits, and decisions made by opaque algorithms. This new convention sets a global benchmark for fair pay, workplace protections, social security, transparency, and workers' rights in the digital economy.

06/12/2026

It's the 91st commemoration of the Battle of Ballantyne Pier, "the bloodiest hours in waterfront history" and a turning point for BC's labour movement. We'll be joining ILWU Canada and many others as we remember the workers who stood strong in the face of brutal violence. Come out at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 18 to Vancouver's New Brighton Park and commemorate this historic event.

06/08/2026

The voices of BC workers were heard loud and clear at this morning's budget consultations. Along with leaders from several BC unions, Sussanne told the the BC Legislature's finance committee that workers are under tremendous pressure. They need to see a government response that recognizes how urgent the situation is.

She underlined three key priorities. One is to bring privatized public services back under public control, to save money and gain more accountability. That includes transit, health labs and expanding the list of projects covered by Community Benefits and Project Labour Agreements.

Another is affordability, with measures such as affordable public childcare and funding for the government branch that ensures workers get the wages and fair treatment they're entitled to.

And the third is investing in physical and social infrastructure British Columbians have been waiting for, from long-term care beds to public schools.

Workers, she said, "are looking for a budget that shows this government understands the urgency of the challenges in ther lives. One that invests where investment is needed and generates revenue where the capacity exists. One that says: We’re on your side."