For Immediate Release: Wednesday, July 9, 2025 

ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour (NLFL) launched a workplace heat stress campaign today to address the growing issue of excessive heat in workplaces. 

“Heat exposure is a life-threatening occupational hazard with serious short- and long-term consequences – and it can escalate dangerously fast,” said NLFL President Jessica McCormick. “As our planet warms, heat stress is becoming a workplace crisis within the broader climate crisis. Workers must know their rights, employers must take immediate action to protect them, and governments must implement strong policies to ensure worker safety.” 

The campaign focuses on three key priorities: 

1. Educating workers on the signs and dangers of heat stress, as well as their legal rights to a safe workplace; 

2. Collecting worker experiences through an online survey and a “Share Your Story” form to document how heat impacts their health and their work; and 

3. Demanding action from employers and governments to implement stronger protections against extreme heat. 

“This summer, we’ll be engaging with workers, on the ground and online, to hear firsthand how heat stress affects them, how has the situation changed in recent years, whether employers are taking proper precautions, and what more must be done to keep workers safe,” said McCormick. “Many workers in our province face extreme heat at work, whether indoors or outdoors, and the situation will only get worse as climate change makes our summers hotter. The information we gather and the conversations we have will drive our fight for change.” 

For more details on the campaign, visit: https://nlfl.nf.ca/campaigns/heat-stress/ 

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Thursday, April 24, 2025 

ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour (NLFL) and workers across the province will gather on April 28^th to mark the National Day of Mourning.  

“In 2024, according to WorkplaceNL statistics, 26 workers in this province died because of a workplace illness or injury. That’s 11 more than the previous year,” said NLFL President Jessica McCormick. “Behind these numbers are real people and the families, friends, and co-workers who are left to grieve their loss.”  
 
In the past five years alone,124 workers in this province have lost their lives due to their work.  

“Today—and every day—we reaffirm our commitment to fighting for strong, enforceable safety laws, healthy workplaces, and accountability for employers and governments—because even one workplace death is one too many,” said McCormick. “Everyone deserves to work safely and return home at the end of their shift. Governments must do more to make that a reality.” 

The NLFL continues our call for: 

• Employers to ensure safe workplaces; 

• Government to implement effective prevention strategies, strong laws, and to ensure those laws are enforced; 

• An increase the number of Occupational Health and Safety Investigators in the province; 

• Transparency in health and safety records. The health and safety records of NL employers are kept out of the public eye. Yet, Ontario’s “Safety Check”, for example, allows the public to check the safety records of businesses; 

• The enforcement of the Westray Act to hold employers criminally accountable in the death or serious injury of workers due to negligence; and 

• The establishment of an Occupational Health Clinic to help both employers and workers manage, prevent, and respond to occupational illnesses. 

Day of Mourning ceremonies will take place on Monday, April 28 in St. John’s, Grand Falls-Windsor, Corner Brook, and Labrador City. Full details of the events can be found at: https://nlfl.nf.ca/2025-day-of-mourning/  

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Because one workplace death is one too many. 
 
The following is a schedule of Day of Mourning ceremonies happening in our province:  

St. John’s & District Labour Council 

Day of Mourning Ceremony 

NL Confederation Bldg, 100 Prince Philip Drive, St.John’s 

Monday, April 28, 2025 

12:00 PM 

SJDLC709NL@gmail.com 

Corner Brook & District Labour Council 

Day of Mourning Wreath Laying Ceremony 

Holy Redeemer Cathedral, 15 Mt. Bernard Ave, Corner Brook 

Will be also live-streamed by Fillatree’s Funeral  Home, https://fillatre.ca/ 

Monday, April 28, 2025,  

2:00 PM 

Labrador West & District Labour Council 

Day of Mourning Wreath Laying Ceremony 

5795 USW Union Hall, 105 Hudson Dr, Labrador City 

Monday, April 28, 2025,  

2:00PM 

Grand Falls Windsor Day of Mourning Committee 

Day of Mourning Wreath Laying Ceremony 

Grand Falls Windsor Injured Workers Memorial, Lincoln Road 

Monday, April 28, 2025,  

12:00PM 

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On Friday, March 7 the federal government announced the initial round of measures to support the economy and protect workers.  

Details can be found here – https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tariff-supports-canada-1.7477536  

And here – https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2025/03/fighting-for-canadian-workers-and-businesses.html 

These initial tariff protection measures reveal an inadequate response to the crisis facing our members. The announced actions fall short of providing the comprehensive support workers across our province and country need right now. 

Real protection requires considerations for wage stability, job security provisions, adequate EI enhancements, industry transition support, and pathways for re/upskilling. 

The existing EI program provides inadequate supports for workers at risk of job loss as it is. Rather than continuing to tinker with EI each time a crisis arises, government must follow through on the commitment to reform the EI system for all workers, not just those in trade-exposed industries. 

These reforms must include: 

• Implementing a universal 360 hours to qualify for EI regular or special benefits 

• Extending the duration of EI regular benefits and extend the claims of workers already on claim. This would include the many seasonal workers in Newfoundland and Labrador who are facing uncertainty this fishing season 

• Increasing the EI benefit level to ensure meaningful income replacement 

These are just some of the reforms the labour movement has been calling for. 

Workers demand better – they need and deserve bold action. We can’t be in this together if workers are left to navigate these uncertain times without adequate support. 

The Federal government must expand the suite of supports for workers to meet the moment.  

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 Minimum Wage Increase Falls Short for Workers in Newfoundland and Labrador 

For Immediate Release: 
Friday, February 14, 2025 

ST. JOHN’S, NL – Today, the provincial government announced a $0.40 increase to the minimum wage, effective April 1, 2025, tied to the Consumer Price Index. While this adjustment acknowledges the need for change, it fails to adequately address the challenges faced by workers struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living. This decision leaves thousands of workers and their families unable to meet basic needs, with broader implications for our communities and our economy. 

“Every worker deserves the dignity of being able to provide for themselves and their families. Yet, in Newfoundland and Labrador, nearly one-quarter of our workforce—approximately 23%—earns less than $20 per hour, making it increasingly difficult to make ends meet,” said Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour President Jessica McCormick. “Tying the minimum wage to inflation alone is not enough. Without more substantial increases, workers will continue to fall behind, unable to keep pace with the rising costs of essentials like housing, food, and childcare. In real terms, they will remain trapped earning $15 an hour indefinitely.”  

In August 2024, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) released its second provincial living wage report, revealing the stark reality of what it takes to survive in Newfoundland and Labrador. The report outlines the hourly wage needed to cover basic expenses across four regions: 

• Central Newfoundland: $24.10 
• Eastern Newfoundland: $24.70 
• Western Newfoundland: $23.10 
• Northern Peninsula and Labrador: $27.30

Approximately 17,000 workers earn the minimum wage in Newfoundland and Labrador.  

These figures, based on a family of four and accounting for tax credits, deductions, and government benefits, include essential costs such as food, shelter, transportation, and childcare. The gap between these living wages and the announced minimum wage is significant. 

“The current approach to minimum wage policy is simply not meeting the needs of workers,” said McCormick. “Without meaningful action, the gap between the minimum wage and a living wage will only widen, pushing more families into poverty and further straining our social systems. Workers need – and deserve – a wage that reflects the true cost of living and allows them to thrive, not just try to survive.” 

To build an economy that works for everyone, the NLFL is calling for immediate action: 

1. Implement a more substantial minimum wage increase beyond the current $16 per hour to better align with living wage benchmarks. 

• Conduct annual, region-specific living wage calculations to ensure policies reflect the real costs faced by workers and their families. 
   
• Reform income benefits, including adjusting eligibility thresholds and reducing clawback rates, to support workers transitioning to better-paying jobs. \

Using evidence-based living wage data to guide labour market and social policies will ensure government programs effectively support working people. These changes are not only fair but also economically beneficial, as they will help reduce poverty, strengthen local economies, and create a more equitable province for all. 

“The time for half-measures is over. Newfoundland and Labrador’s workers cannot afford to wait,” said McCormick.  

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This is welcome news in terms of the impact this would have on workers and our economy. However, at this stage, this is a pause, and if the past month has taught us anything, it is that we should be prepared for the unexpected. 

We now have 30 days to plan, prepare, and continue the work we have started. 

It is imperative that the discussions and work that has begun on implementing systemic changes to make our economy more diversified and resilient must continue. We must continue to advocate and push for progressive changes to the employment insurance system to better serve workers in a changing world. Our province’s procurement processes should be altered to better support local workers and businesses. Our governments should move forward with buy local and buy Canadian campaigns, programming, and supports. And as always, unions will continue to push for better for all workers at the bargaining table. Preparations and planning must also proceed as if the 30-day pause does not lead to a lasting trade peace. 

Now is not the time to let our guard down; if anything, we should be doubling down on our collective efforts to strengthen our economy and our industrial capacity. Those who have not learned from history are doomed to repeat it. We must learn, we must adapt, and we must prepare. We will also push to keep the Premier’s Roundtable on trade in place and move forward with the work we have begun.  

Onward. 

The post STATEMENT: 30-day Tariff Pause and Next Steps appeared first on Newfoundland & Labrador Federation of Labour.

“We have been clear from the outset that this is an existential crisis that demands a united and coordinated response that meets the seriousness of this moment,” said NLFL President Jessica McCormick. “President Trump has started a trade war that is going to have a devastating impact on our province. We must take all necessary steps to protect jobs, protect workers, safeguard our economy, and plan for the future.” 

“A coordinated approach, relying on a united front between government, industry, and labour is essential to ensuring Newfoundland and Labrador maintains its economic stability and protects its workers and communities from trade disruptions and their far-reaching impacts,” said McCormick. “We must stand together in the face of this unprecedented attack on our country and our people.” 

McCormick is a member of the Premier’s Roundtable on Trade and is playing a lead role in ensuring that the voices, concerns, and needs of workers are heard and acted upon as the provincial government manages and responds to these tariffs.  

The NLFL is recommending and advocating for a comprehensive response that includes: 

·         Income supports for workers 

·         Enhancements to employment insurance 

·         Transition, upskilling, and education pathways for workers 

·         Long-term economic diversification planning 

·         Strategic planning to reduce reliance on American trade markets 

·         Procurement directives 

·         Promoting local and Canadian made products 

·         Liquidity supports for affected industries and businesses to protect jobs 

·         Strong retaliatory measures 

While many of these measures require federal government capacity and action, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador must also use whatever levers are available to supplement federal efforts. 
 
“Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are no stranger to adversity, and we have always leaned on each other to get through challenging times together,” said McCormick. “I have no doubt that we will come together to face this trade war head on. Unions will be front and center in that effort.” 

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These challenges pose serious risks to our economy, communities, and the workforce that drives them. These external pressures could profoundly impact our province, our communities, our industries, and most importantly, our workers – who form the foundation of our economy and social fabric. 

The choices we make today will shape our province for generations to come. 

In this critical period, our provincial government must pursue a forward-thinking, collaborative, and comprehensive fiscal strategy. Strategic investments in economic growth and social well-being are not merely expenditures – they are down payments on our collective future.  

A population with access to strong and well-resourced healthcare, education, and social services becomes more productive and resilient, reducing long-term demands on government resources, while strengthening our economic underpinnings. 

The government must prioritize investments that both generate revenue and strengthen our province’s economic and social capacity. Economic diversification is essential to building resilience against market volatility and global uncertainties. This approach not only creates new opportunities for growth but also ensures our province can better manage its obligations while maintaining vital public services. In order to be truly effective, this approach must be worker-led and worker-centered.   

Through thoughtful investment in our people and strategic sectors, we can build a more sustainable, equitable, fair, and prosperous Newfoundland and Labrador. 

You can read the NLFL 2025 Provincial Budget Submission – HERE  

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“The provincial government projects that the four MOU initiatives will create approximately 5,000 direct jobs and 4,500 indirect and induced jobs,” said NLFL President Jessica McCormick. “While our province’s workers have consistently demonstrated their capability to handle projects of this magnitude, we must ensure we have the workforce capacity to meet these demands alongside other provincial labour needs. This planning must begin immediately.”

McCormick emphasized the need for collaboration: “Government, employers, and workers must work together to develop a comprehensive strategy to ensure the province is prepared for the task ahead. To be effective, any labour strategy must be worker-led and worker-focused. Front-line workers have invaluable insights into what’s required to do the job right and must be included in any human resources planning process.”

McCormick also stressed the importance of investing in education and training: “The provincial government must properly engage with, fund, and support the K-12 and post-secondary education systems to ensure workers can access the education, training, upskilling, and professional development needed for these projects’ diverse labour demands. This plan must also consider labour needs beyond these four specific projects. Furthermore, all associated benefits agreements must prioritize ensuring that our province, our workers, and our communities are the primary beneficiaries.”

“The future prosperity of our province and its people depends on these decisions,” McCormick stated. “If our history has taught us anything, it’s the importance of due diligence and proactive planning. We have one chance to get this right – so we must start planning immediately.”

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“This is a good first step by the government on this front; one that workers and their unions, as well as the medical community, have been requesting for some time,” said NLFL President Jessica McCormick. “This change will reduce stress on our healthcare system, free up healthcare workers to focus on providing care, improve access to healthcare, and allow workers to concentrate on getting healthy before returning to work.”

“However, the full impact of this change will depend on individual employers, who will still have the ability to set their own sick note policies, even for short-term illnesses,” said McCormick. “Employers should absolutely follow the precedent set by this change – for our healthcare system and for workers – but they are not required to do so.”

A recently released report by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) estimated that as many as 12.5 million unnecessary healthcare appointments could be eliminated annually by removing the requirement for sick notes for minor, short-term illnesses.

“Workers and their families need this government to implement further labour legislation changes to improve their working and living conditions,” said McCormick. “We are hopeful that this change signals that this government is listening to workers and is ready to prioritize their needs. We will continue to pressure the government to ensure this happens.”

Recently, the NLFL called on the provincial government to increase the Income Replacement Rate for injured workers. Additionally, the NLFL is urging the government to introduce legislation during this session to ensure workers have access to ten (10) paid sick days.

“Sick notes are just one part of the overall picture,” said McCormick. “Workers should not feel pressured to come to work while sick for fear of losing their jobs. If the goal is to reduce the financial strain on workers and mitigate the spread of infectious diseases, as the Minister states in her release, then we also need to enact increased access to paid sick days and better compensation for injured workers.”

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