West Kootenay Labour Council

West Kootenay Labour Council The Labour Council advocates on behalf of all working people. We believe that unions are a positive force in Canada. We are Unions in the Kootenays.

Unions make a difference both at work and in the quality of life you earn. We call that difference the union advantage. The labour movement was created by people standing up together for fair wages, safe workplaces and decent work hours. Many of the benefits and standards won for our members are enjoyed by all workers today, such as minimum wage, health and safety regulations, and overtime. Having

a union on your side makes your job and your workplace safer and fairer. You get paid better and are more likely to have benefits that help you balance work with life at home. Your health and ability to do your job become important and your right to fair treatment gets enforced. It shows that, on average, unionized workers across Canada earned $5.28/hour more than non-union workers. Women with unions earned more too ($7.10/hour) and got paid more fairly. Workers under age 25 earned an extra 27% from jobs covered by a collective agreement. But this advantage doesn’t just belong to union members. It benefits everyone. Workers in unions are an important part of the local community and economy because that’s where they spend their paycheques. Their incomes support local businesses (who create local jobs) and bolster the local tax base, which supports public works and community services that add to everyone’s quality of life. The benefits enjoyed by unionized workers (dental insurance, extended health care coverage and legal insurance, to name a few) attract and support dentists, opticians, chiropractors, therapists, health specialists, and family lawyers whose services are available to everyone in the community. When they retire, the incomes earned from years of contributions into pension plans also provide money to spend in the community. More importantly, they provide income security, which means fewer seniors having to rely on their families or social programs to get by. Same goes for the health, drug and survivor benefits that many retirees enjoy because they had a union when they worked. When unions stand up for fairness, they raise the bar for everyone.

Never too late...
06/08/2026

Never too late...

06/06/2026
06/06/2026
05/24/2026
05/22/2026

Voting for the Pacific Blue Cross board of directors is now open until May 25. Scan the QR code, or visit link in the comments.

Dear friends,A new legal opinion has confirmed what health advocates have been warning for months: Alberta’s Bill 11 vio...
05/22/2026

Dear friends,
A new legal opinion has confirmed what health advocates have been warning for months: Alberta’s Bill 11 violates the Canada Health Act and threatens the future of universal public health care in Canada.
If this law is allowed to stand, it opens the door for patients to be charged for medically necessary care — creating a two-tier system where people with money get faster access while everyone else waits longer.
We cannot let that happen.
Right now, federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel has the power — and the responsibility — to enforce the Canada Health Act and stop this dangerous precedent before it spreads to other provinces.
Send a message now urging Minister Michel and your MP to act.
Take Action
The Canadian Health Coalition recently asked a team of expert lawyers to review Alberta’s Bill 11. Their conclusion was clear: the legislation violates federal law by allowing extra billing and private charges for medically necessary care.
That strikes at the core principle of Canadian medicare: access based on need, not ability to pay.
Alberta’s government is pushing ahead anyway, backed by corporate interests and private insurance lobbyists who see healthcare as a business opportunity. If the federal government fails to intervene, other provinces could follow the same path.
That’s why your voice matters right now.
We've made it easy to take action. With one click, you can send a message directly to Minister Michel and your own Member of Parliament. You can use our prepared letter or personalize it with your own words.
Send Your Message
Public medicare exists today because people fought for it — and protecting it will require public pressure once again.
Please take one minute today to help us save one of Canada’s proudest achievements,
Cheryl
BC Health Coalition
https://www.bchealthcoalition.ca/
British Columbia Health Coalition · 3102 Main St, 302, Vancouver, Unceded Coast Salish Territories, BC V5T 3G7, Canada
This email was sent to [[email protected]][email protected]. To stop receiving emails, click here.
You can also keep up with BC Health Coalition on Twitter or Facebook.
Created with NationBuilder, the essential toolkit for leaders.

Federal action is needed to stop the spread of two-tier health care in Canada

Thank you for supporting our work! If you’d like to become a member, please use this link instead. For donations by cheque, please check out our FAQ for more information.

People rallied together.
05/20/2026

People rallied together.

More than 2,000 union delegates at came together to send a clear message to Danielle Smith:

🚫 We will not allow two-tier, American-style health care in Canada.

Together, we overwhelmingly adopted an emergency resolution opposing Alberta’s push toward privatized health care and calling on the federal government to enforce the Canada Health Act.

Union activists from Alberta shared powerful stories about the growing crisis in their communities and called on all of us to stand united against privatization.

Public health care is one of the things that defines us as Canadians — and we are ready to fight to protect it.

Health care is a human right and we will always fight for it.

05/17/2026

Marking the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia has never been more urgent. Standing with 2SLGBTQIA+ workers and community members has never been more important. An injury to one is an injury to all.

The voices of hate are bolder than ever. The right-wing drive to erase and criminalize transgender people has doubled down in the United States. And the fear campaign against 2SLGBTQIA+ people everywhere continues to ramp up.

This is a workplace safety issue as well as one of human rights and justice: 72% of 2SLGBTQIA+ workers report experiencing harassment and violence at work.

We're keeping up the pressure on government and employers to defend workers, and to protect the human rights and dignity of everyone in our community. And we send our solidarity to 2SLGBTQIA+ workers everywhere. We see you, we value you and we stand with you.

CLC Executive
05/16/2026

CLC Executive

Congratulations to
Team Unite!

***************************
History made.

Team Unite has officially been acclaimed at the Canadian Labour Congress Convention.

Congratulations to Bea Bruske, Lily Chang, Siobhan Vipond, and Marc-Edouard Joubert on earning the confidence of delegates from coast to coast to coast. Solidarity and unity continue to move Canada’s labour movement forward.

Address

PO Box 243, 101 Baker Street
Nelson, BC
V1L5P9

Telephone

+12503049721

Website

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