NEWS RELEASE: Federation of Labour Outlines Workers’ Priorities for 2025 Provincial Election
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, September 16, 2025
ST. JOHN’S, NL – Now that a provincial election has been called, the labour movement is calling on all political parties to present comprehensive plans that put workers and communities first.
“This election presents a critical opportunity to advance workers’ rights and build a fairer and more just province for all – where no one gets left behind,” said Jessica McCormick, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour. “Workers need to see concrete commitments from every party that puts good jobs, strong public services, and economic justice at the centre of their respective platforms.”
The Federation has identified key priorities essential for building a Newfoundland and Labrador that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few:
1. Stronger Labour Laws: Implement card check certification and anti-scab legislation to protect the right to organize and strike.
2. Workplace Health & Safety: Strengthen regulations and enforcement to ensure every worker returns home safe.
3. Protecting Public Services: Stop privatization and increase funding for public healthcare, education, and services.
4. Economic Justice & Pay Equity: Lift workers out of poverty with a liveable wage, strong pay equity legislation, and a strengthened social safety net.
5. A Worker-Led Workforce Strategy: Develop and implement a comprehensive labour market strategy that includes significant investments in public education, college, university, and union training centres as well as retraining and upskilling for workers to build a resilient, skilled workforce.
6. Community Benefits from Major Projects: Guarantee good, union jobs, and enforce strong Community Benefit Agreements to ensure local hiring, procurement, and Indigenous consent.
7. Affordable Housing: Launch a provincial strategy with major investments in non-market and social housing.
8. Universal Childcare: Improve the $10-a-day program by expanding access and supporting Early Childhood Educators with better wages and conditions.
9. A Just Transition: Create a worker-led framework for a green economy that generates good, unionized jobs and retraining.
To hold parties accountable, the Federation will be sending a detailed questionnaire on these issues to each party and will host an Election Forum.
A dedicated election resource website has been launched at: https://nlfed.ca/campaigns/workersvote2025/
“We encourage every worker to get engaged in this election,” added McCormick. “Ask candidates tough questions at the door, attend all-candidates meetings, and talk to friends and co-workers about the issues that matter most. The future of our province is on the ballot. Let’s all do our part to elect a government that works for workers.”
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