Fix EI Now!
Hundreds of thousands of Canadian workers have lost their jobs in the last five years. The job loss crisis, which had been largely confined to manufacturing and forestry, is now spreading across the economy to sectors such as construction, resources, tourism, transportation, retail and hospitality.
Workers who are forced out of their jobs are clearly not at fault, but many are having great difficulty finding other employment. These workers are being forced into unemployment for longer periods of time and without even the minimal level of Employment Insurance support that was available during the last recession. EI rates are at a historic low and currently only 42 per cent of unemployed Canadians qualify for EI benefits at any given time.
Workers need emergency relief now. The CAW is calling for emergency measures that protect workers who are losing their jobs, incomes, pensions and homes. The CAW is calling on both the federal and provincial governments to step in immediately to make necessary changes to the EI system, strengthen provisions around severance pay and pension protections and improve access to training.
Here's what you can do:
1. Download a leaflet on emergency measures for laid off workers.
Save the Federal Gun Registry! Say NO to Bill C-391
The CAW has joined with hundrds of thousands of Canadians aross this country calling on MPs to vote NO when Bill C-391 returns for third and final reading in Parliament in the coming month. Bill C-391 is a Conservative-lead private members bill intended to dismantle Canada's long gun registry - the existing government program that administers the registration of rifles and shotguns.
It's devastating that the Conservative government is trying to dismantle the national gun registry, with the help of members of the NDP and Liberal parties.
