Canada’s largest labor organization says it wants action to protect its rights, not rhetoric from federal leaders.

Canada’s largest labor organization is calling on unions to hold politicians accountable when they profess to defend the country’s working class.

Canadian Labor Congress President Bea Bruske did not name them in a memo sent Friday to the group’s 50 affiliates, including some of the country’s largest unions such as the Canadian Federation of Public Employees and the Canadian Union of Public Employees. .

But it comes as Conservative leader Pierre Poièvre is touring the country promoting his party as the right choice for the working class, and some fear it will undermine his credibility. There are some too.

“Now more than ever, politicians are supporting workers and speaking positively about workers and unions,” Bruske’s memo said.

“As we head into the next election, we must make it clear to politicians from all walks of life: If you want our votes, you must respect and strengthen our rights. Not with pretty words, but with concrete actions.”

Labor leaders added that when workers gather in Ottawa next week to plan their election strategy, they plan to push for legislation to help workers join or form unions. Ta.

“We are focused on challenging politicians who claim to support workers to support measures that will bring more balanced labor negotiations and fairer labor laws to every jurisdiction in our country. I’m going to guess,” she wrote.

“Political leaders can answer a simple question: “Do you agree that labor laws should help more workers join or form unions?” We have to give a clear answer.”

With the Liberal Party in the minority in parliament, the next federal election could technically be held at any time, but no later than October 2025.

The measures Bruske wants to see include bringing workers to the decision-making table, improving employment insurance, strengthening the Canada Pension Plan and updating the Canada Labor Code.

She points out that the Canadian Labor Congress’ own research suggests that support for unions across the country remains strong.

“We can use this support to ask all politicians to align their policy proposals with the best interests of workers.”

Conservatives voted in favor of banning substitute workers.

Poièvre calls out Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s record on affordability, with special attention to working-class Canadians who are feeling squeezed by the cost of living post-COVID-19. is focused on.

Polls show that despite deep ties to organized labor and the NDP, and despite the fact that Poièvre has supported back-to-work legislation in Congress, he accepts their views. consistently suggests.

Earlier this year, Conservatives broke character and voted en masse to support legislation that would ban federally regulated workplaces from using substitute workers during strikes or lockouts. This bill was supported by Congress.

During his 2022 leadership campaign, Poièvre criticized Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem for discouraging employers from raising wages for fear of spurring inflation.

And in a speech to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade last month, he boasted that he would prioritize visits with local unions and frontline workers over corporate speaking engagements.

The Conservatives’ courtship of workers has not gone unnoticed by the federal NDP.

The party, which has long considered itself a friend of organized labor, has found itself trailing behind the Conservatives in long-running battles in British Columbia and northern Ontario.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh told the audience at the annual Progressive Summit this week that he couldn’t believe what Poièvre was saying about supporting workers and their families.

And Anne McGrath, Mr. Singh’s chief of staff and a veteran NDP operative, said recently that the Conservative leader had never visited the picket line.