News releases
Christy Clark’s minimum wage announcement: 10 cents an hour more than planned won’t lift 500,000 BC workers out of poverty
February 27, 2017
Vancouver - Responding to today’s announcement of a small increase in the minimum wage, BC Federation of Labour President Irene Lanzinger says “it simply isn’t enough to help address the plight of 500,000 low wage workers in BC.”
The increase to $11.35 September 1, 2017 will still... more Poverty Free BC week February 25 to March 4 to highlight need for government action to tackle rising poverty, inequality in BC
February 24, 2017
Vancouver - A week of events to highlight the depths of poverty and inequality in BC and the need for the next provincial government to take action through a concrete poverty reduction strategy kicks off in Vancouver Saturday, February 25.
The launch event is a panel discussion on... more Christy Clark budget: A few election goodies, but no significant investment in vital public services
February 21, 2017
Vancouver - Today’s BC budget offered a number of election goodies for voters—including a rollback of some of the massive increases in MSP premiums imposed by the BC Liberals—but nothing to invest in vital public services that have been cut over the past 16 years, says the BC... more Statement from the BC Federation of Labour regarding the tragic slaying of Winnipeg transit operator Irvine Jubal Fraser
February 17, 2017
The BC Federation of Labour is voicing its concern that governments across Canada must do more to protect worker safety, after a Winnipeg bus driver was murdered in an attack by a passenger on February 14.
BCFED President Irene Lanzinger extends condolences to the family, friends, and co-workers of... more Throne speech glosses over fundamental social, economic problems for working people in BC
February 14, 2017
Vancouver - Today’s Speech from the Throne offered few concrete measures to make life better for hard-working British Columbians, nor did it deliver real action to address the growing poverty and inequality crisis that is too prevalent in our province, says the BC Federation of... more BCFED Statement on Black History Month
February 2, 2017
The following is a statement from Irene Lanzinger, president of the BC Federation of Labour.
“The month of February 2017 marks the 20th anniversary of the celebration of Black History Month in Canada.
As we continue to bear witness to the ongoing struggle for equitable treatment of black people in... more BCFED Statement in response to the terrorist attack against Muslims at Quebec City mosque
January 31, 2017
The following is a statement from Irene Lanzinger, President of the BC Federation of Labour:
“To the victims and their families of the January 29th terrorist attack on the Centre Cultural Islamique de Quebec which took the lives of Abdelkrim Hassane, 41, Mamadou Tanou Barry, 42, Ibrahima Barry, 39... more On-the-job deaths of two Okanagan workers a sign government, employers need to do more to make workplaces safe
January 31, 2017 | Health, Safety, and Compensation
Vancouver - The BC Federation of Labour is renewing its call for the BC government to make workplaces safer after two more workers were killed in fatal incidents at Okanagan timber facilities in the past five days.
On Friday, a worker at a log sorting facility in Lumby was killed... more Insulators Union and BC Fed relieved BC Court of Appeal unanimously overturns BC Supreme Court decision that WorkSafeBC safety laws too “complex” to follow in dismissing contempt of court case against asbestos removal firms, owner over hundreds of safe
January 29, 2017
Vancouver – The BC Insulators Union and the BC Federation of Labour are extremely relieved the BC Court of Appeal has unanimously overturned a February 2016 BC Supreme Court ruling that WorkSafeBC laws protecting asbestos removal workers from the deadly substance were too “... more BCFED seeks guarantees from Clark government for use of apprentices on public infrastructure projects
January 25, 2017
Vancouver - Yesterday, Premier Clark announced more than $13 million in funding to expand and renovate trades apprenticeship training facilities at North Island College in Campbell River. But ironically, Victoria has no tangible guarantees in place that apprentices will even be... more