This is an archive of news stories and research from the National Union of Public and General Employees. Please see our new site - https://nupge.ca - for the most current information.
“Taken together, these voices represent the democratic strength of inquiry, research, and discussion that animate so much of the labour movement and the social movements supported by unions.” — James Clancy, NUPGE National President.
Ottawa (15 May 2014) — The new book exploring the critical role that unions and strong labour rights play in reducing income inequality and promoting the well-being of all citizens will have its official launch on May 21 from 4 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. in the Library Room of the Royal York Hotel in Toronto, Ontario.
The launch is a public event sponsored by the Canadian Foundation for Labour Rights and the Global Labour Research Centre.
New book focusing on labour rights and the impact on income inequality launches in Toronto
Unions Matter: Advancing Democracy, Economic Equality and Social Justice by the Canadian Foundation for Labour Rights (CFLR) is a new addition to the ongoing discussion about income inequality. The collection of essays by some of Canada's leading thinkers adds to the growing body of evidence showing how unions are essential for achieving equality, democracy and justice in work and society in Canada.
Unions Matter is divided into three sections, the first of which focuses on labour rights and the critical role they play in reducing income inequality. The next section discusses the role of unions in promoting democracy, economic equality, and social rights. The final section focuses on constitutional protection of labour rights as they relate to Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms and international labour standards.
Book is a result of international conference on labour rights in 2013
The genesis of the book was an International Conference on Labour Rights and their Impact on Democracy, Economic Equality and Social Justice sponsored by the CFLR and held March 2013 in Toronto.
James Clancy, National President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), and author of the book's first chapter, "Unions Promote Fairness," noted how those attending the conference were struck both by the passion and intellectual rigor of the conference presenters, as well as their broad wealth of knowledge on a significant range of issues.
“We felt that a logical next step was inviting the conference speakers to put together a book encompassing the themes that they spoke about at the conference. Thus, Unions Matter was born. CFLR is proud to have brought together the thoughtful voices of the presenters who took time to put their thoughts to paper and share their valuable insights on some of the most compelling issues facing not just the labour movement, but those struggling to make Canadian society more equitable.”
“Taken together, these voices represent the democratic strength of inquiry, research, and discussion that animate so much of the labour movement and the social movements supported by unions.”
More information:
A list of the book contributors
Early reviews of Unions Matter
Order Unions Matter
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE