Canadian and European Labour Unite to Defend Workers' Rights and Democracy

As Canadian and European political leaders gather in Montréal for the October 29–30 Canada–EU Summit, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) have issued a joint statement calling for workers' rights and democracy to remain central to stronger economic and trade relations.

Together representing nearly 50 million workers, the organizations emphasized that expanded cooperation must support good jobs, collective bargaining, and the right to strike. They also cautioned against weakening labour protections in the name of economic competitiveness and called for meaningful union involvement in future economic and trade agreements.

Beyond workplace rights, the statement raises concerns about growing threats to democratic institutions, the rise of authoritarianism, and the targeting of trade unionists around the world. The organizations urged Canada and the EU to defend democracy and independent trade unions, emphasizing that stronger international partnerships must also protect the fundamental freedoms that allow workers to organize and advocate for their rights.

Read the full joint statement from the CLC here.