News releases
This Labour Day, let’s ensure every worker has the protection they’ve earned
September 3, 2021
This summer reminded all of us of the importance of workers. And not just because of the pandemic. We’ve all witnessed the dedication of workers fighting fires, caring for heatwave victims, and just showing up for work in extremely difficult conditions.It also reminds us that workers deserve the... more Urgent action needed to hold negligent employers to account as Crown stays proceedings against Kiewit: BCFED
September 1, 2021
(Unceded Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam territories — Vancouver, BC) Yesterday’s decision by the BC Prosecution Service represents a profound failure of the criminal justice system for workers and their families everywhere, BCFED President Laird Cronk said today. BCFED statement on the Kelowna crane tragedy
July 13, 2021 | Health, Safety, and Compensation
Today we learned that five people lost their lives due to the tragic crane collapse in Kelowna, and that more were injured. The BC Federation of Labour offers its heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of those five individuals who never returned home from work yesterday, as... more Pride as Protest
June 23, 2021
As Pride month wraps up, it is appropriate to reflect on its origins, which are deeply steeped in protest. Pride was led largely by queer and Trans people of colour against police brutality enacted on community members. This year marks fifty-five years since the beginning of the Pride protest... more Statement on National Indigenous Peoples Day
June 21, 2021
(Unceded Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam territories — Vancouver, BC) This year we mark National Indigenous People’s Day with heavy hearts and a deep sense of responsibility. In the wake of the uncovering of unmarked graves of children on multiple Residential School sites... more Young workers call on BC NDP government to re-instate Grant’s law, ensure health and safety of front-line workers Â
June 18, 2021
(Unceded Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam territories — Vancouver, BC) The BC Federation of Labour Young Workers’ Committee will stage an overnight “virtual sit-in” on June 19th to highlight weak safety laws for convenience store and gas Skilled Trades Certification program will ensure fully trained, highly skilled, and resilient workers, ready for the new economy
June 11, 2021
(Unceded Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam territories — Vancouver, BC) The BC government has announced a Skilled Trades Certification program that will provide access to apprenticeships and formal recognition of the skills and knowledge for workers within ten initial... more Statement on City of Vancouver’s drug decriminalization proposal
June 8, 2021 | Health, Safety, and Compensation
The BC Federation of Labour (BCFED) is committed to ensuring a safe supply of drugs and to working with all levels of government to decriminalize personal possession of drugs. This commitment was renewed with the adoption of resolution 181 at our 2020 convention. We have been alarmed with... more Injured workers left waiting, eighteen months after government report calling for change
June 1, 2021
(Unceded Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam territories — Vancouver, BC)  The BC Federation of Labour released a report today highlighting glaring government inaction to fix BC’s broken compensation system for workers injured at work. Released on National Injured... more Statement from the BCFED on the confirmation of mass grave of children at the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School
May 28, 2021
We are heartbroken and horrified at the confirmation of a mass grave of 215 children at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School on Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Territory.We wish to share our deepest condolences with the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, and all the families impacted by the... more