News and media

Vancouver – With the 20 cent increase to the minimum wage taking effect today, the BC Federation of Labour is reminding the BC Liberal government that they are leaving hundreds of thousands of working people in poverty. “A person working full time in BC earning the minimum wage is living $6000 below the poverty line. This pathetic 20 cent increase will do nothing to help these hard working British

VANCOUVER – As the second Coroner’s Inquest into deadly sawmill explosions concludes, the BC Federation of Labour is reaffirming its call for a full and independent public inquiry into the Lakeland and Babine sawmill explosions. BC Federation of Labour President Irene Lanzinger stated that, “While the Inquest jury has supported some effective recommendations, there is no mechanism in place to

ST. JOHN’S, NL– At the kickoff of the Council of the Federation meeting, Canada’s labour leaders called on the provincial and territorial premiers to come together with unprecedented unity to set a new agenda for Canada. “The Harper government will go down in history as one of the most undemocratic and divisive ones in Canadian History. Every important issue facing Canadians, our provinces and our

VANCOUVER – The BC Federation of Labour is calling on the Canadian Museum of History to reconsider its decision to eliminate the longstanding exhibit devoted to the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike. In a letter to the Museum’s Board of Trustees, BCFED Secretary-Treasurer Aaron Ekman expressed his deep concern that this important historical exhibit will not be returned following renovations to the

VANCOUVER – The BC Federation of Labour is renewing its call for tougher laws to protect late-night workers, in BC and across the country, following another avoidable death of a gas station attendant working alone late at night. Maryam Rashidi, a 35-year-old Calgary resident and mother, was run over by a stolen truck while trying to stop a gas-and-dash while at work. She succumbed to her injuries

VANCOUVER – The BC Federation of Labour says the government’s commitment to have apprenticeship placements on public projects is a good first step to providing more opportunities for on-the-job training in BC. “This announcement is long overdue,” said Irene Lanzinger, President of the BC Federation of Labour. “Government is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between training and the required