Who We Are
The Victoria Labour Council (VLC) is the local organization of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), which represents 3.2 million unionized workers across Canada.
The VLC was founded over 100 years ago and is one of the oldest labour organizations in BC.
22nd Annual Labour Day Picnic, Monday September 6
Next meeting: Wed. September 15, 7:00 p.m.
Labour Day Message, 2010
The Victoria Labour Council is the local organization of the Canadian Labour Congress and represents over 23,000 members of affiliated unions in greater Victoria. The Victoria Labour Council was founded over 100 years ago and is one of the oldest labour organizations in BC.
Last year, on Labour Day here in Victoria, the Canadian Labour Congress and the Victoria Labour Council kicked off our campaign seeking action on retirement security. The economic crisis and recession had left people's savings in tatters and pointed to a looming crisis – Canadians were not saving enough to avoid poverty in retirement.
The solution we proposed was simple. Almost every working person in the country already has access to the safest, most secure and guaranteed retirement savings plan in the world – the Canada Pension Plan. But the CPP is capped and only allows people to save enough to cover a maximum of 25% of the average wage. That's not enough for anyone to live on today.
The Canadian Labour Congress launched a campaign to expand the CPP and help everyone save more - enough to cover the basics when they retire. Here in Victoria, and across the country, union members talked about our plan with members of Parliament and MLA's from all political parties. At a meeting in June, the country's finance ministers agreed that the best way to help Canadians save more for retirement was through the Canada Pension Plan. Now we need to make sure that laws get introduced this year to change the Canada Pension Plan and deliver better retirement security for everyone!
Labour Day is about recognizing the contributions of workers to society, and the contributions of unions to the well-being of our communities and country. The federal government enacted legislation making Labour Day into a national holiday in 1894. The efforts of the labour movement brought health and safety laws, shorter work weeks, the weekend, and minimum labour standards to benefit all workers.
Here in Victoria, the Victoria Labour Council will be marking Labour Day by holding our 22nd annual Labour Day picnic in Irving Park between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm. We will have food, music and entertainment for children. Everyone is welcome. Please bring your friends and family and enjoy the day.
On behalf of all members of the Victoria Labour Council – have a happy and safe Labour Day!
- Michael Eso, President
- Kim Manton, Secretary
- Stan Dzbik, Treasurer
Canada's Pension Crisis
Two Videos
We are happy to present the following two videos from our recent Pension conference, produced by ICTV Victoria
- Michael Prince:
- Fixing Our Pension Crisis
- Sylvain Schetagne:
- Retirement Security for All
- Click on image for printable version.
- Maurine Karagianis, MLA speaks to the April Council meeting.
- Carol James, MLA and leader of the Opposition speaks at the Oak Bay Gordon Head NDP Community Leaders Dinner
- Brad Slade, co-coordinator of the anti-HST campaign for Vancouver Island speaks to the April Council meeting.
- Carol James signs the anti-HST petition.
- Jessica Van der Veen speaks at the at the Oak Bay Gordon Head NDP Community Leaders Dinner.
- Rob Fleming, MLA speaking at the at the Oak Bay Gordon Head NDP Community Leaders Dinner.
What's New?
April 20, 2010
Stan Dzbik on the 2010 Day of Mourning.
Sept 14, 2009
June 1, 2009
Photos have been added to the Meet Your Executive section