Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour (NLFL)

06/16/2026

Our thoughts are with Wendi Smallwood’s family and friends including her union family at ACTRA. Wendi left an indelible mark on her union and the vibrant arts community in Newfoundland and Labrador, which she cared so deeply about.

Rest easy.

✊🏼

ACTRA mourns the passing of Wendi Smallwood, performer, National Treasurer, and dearest friend, following a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer.

A renowned talent, dedicated union advocate, activist, and respected leader, Wendi was a generous mentor and highly respected stalwart of our community. Her commitment, integrity, wisdom, kindness, and humour will continue to be felt by all who had the privilege of knowing and working with her.

Wendi was exceptionally proud to serve ACTRA members as your National Treasurer and as both a National Councillor and ACTRA Newfoundland Councillor. She performed all of these duties with unwavering dedication, even as the cruelties of cancer became debilitating. Her service reflected a deep belief in the union, the arts, and the power of collective action.

Wendi’s contributions to our industry, ACTRA, and the people whose lives she touched will be remembered with gratitude and respect.

We love you Wendi.

06/16/2026

Funny how the issue of cutting back salaries and healthcare comes up during public sector bargaining years.

Workers who are dealing with a cost of living crisis shouldn't have to shoulder the burden of government's credit rating.

The answer to our healthcare issues isn't austerity and cuts.

Public services play a vital role in keeping people and communities safe, our most vulnerable cared for, and our economy moving forward.

No to austerity!

06/15/2026

The Minister is correct - we have the ability to meet the labour needs of future projects. However, a strategic approach to economic and labour development gives us the best shot at success - we should not leave it to chance.

We need a comprehensive Labour Market Strategy to collect, analyze, and publicly share detailed labour market information to guide evidence-based decisions in education, training, and economic policy. A coordinated effort will also help connect those with the necessary skills to available jobs here in the province.

Without a comprehensive and collaborative labour market strategy, we risk failing to meet both current and future labour demands. The goal must be to create a diversified labour market that provides stable careers for workers here at home while reducing our vulnerability to boom-and-bust cycles.

The guiding principles for government must centre on creating meaningful, sustainable employment that provides workers with dignity, stability, and economic security. Good jobs must be the foundation — jobs that offer living wages, comprehensive benefits, and job security, rather than precarious or temporary work.

Our approach must be focused on meeting immediate project needs while building lasting capacity for the economy that sustains our communities.

The government is uniquely positioned to coordinate this effort by funding educational opportunities, collecting essential labour market data, enacting progressive labour policies, and formally convening all stakeholders.

Full story at VOCM.

06/13/2026

Gig workers deserve:
-fair pay for all the hours they work,
-health and safety protections,
-paid sick days,
-compensation for injuries on the job,
-holiday pay, and
-transparency and accountability from gig companies.

Historic win for workers! 🎉

Today, the International Labour Organization adopted the world's first global labour standards for platform and gig workers.

For too long, app-based workers have faced low pay, unsafe conditions, lack of benefits, and decisions made by opaque algorithms. This new convention sets a global benchmark for fair pay, workplace protections, social security, transparency, and workers' rights in the digital economy.

06/11/2026

Workers have the charter protected right to free and fair collective bargaining and the ability to strike.

✊🏼

06/11/2026

Today marks the 101st anniversary of Davis Day.

Davis Day (William Davis Miners’ Memorial Day) honours the memory of William Davis, a coal miner who was killed during a strike by Nova Scotia’s miners against the British Empire Steel Corporation.

On this day in 1925, William Davis was shot and killed by company police in New Waterford while marching for safer working conditions and an end to anti-worker actions by the company.

Today, we remember those who fought and sacrificed for the rights and protections workers enjoy today. While we’ve come far, we must continue their fight; for safe workplaces and good jobs for all.

06/09/2026

Rights mean little if workers can’t exercise them.

The Canada Labour Code review must strengthen workers’ rights, not weaken them.

06/06/2026

Kudos to Steelworker (USW) Local 5795 in Labrador City for stepping up to save the long-running and popular Family Day event in Labrador City after the employer pulled funding.

Full story at CBC-NL.

USW District 6

06/05/2026

The federal government released its AI strategy yesterday.

Overall, the strategy lacks a real plan to protect workers and their jobs. Other than referring to a “human in the loop” approach, there is little detail about ensuring human oversight. The strategy is also weak on protections for the environment, water, artists, and intellectual property.

The strategy paints an overly rosy picture of AI, with little detail about the current/potential drawbacks.

From job security and training to privacy, monitoring, algorithmic management, bias, discrimination, and beyond ; workers need and deserve strong policies in place to protect their jobs and human rights.

The full report can be found here: https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/ised/en/canadas-national-artificial-intelligence-strategy-ai-all

06/04/2026

Bricks and mortar alone won't fix our healthcare system. People make healthcare work.

Healthcare workers are struggling and need help.

Federal funding, retention and recruitment, burnout/workloads, supports for mental health, etc. must be addressed.

To build a better health care system, we need to build better hospitals and clinics.

We’re expanding and modernising our healthcare infrastructure across the country — so you can get the care you need, when you need it.

—

Pour établir un meilleur système de santé, il faut bâtir de meilleurs hôpitaux et de meilleures cliniques.

Nous agrandissons et modernisons nos infrastructures de santé partout au pays pour que vous puissiez recevoir les soins dont vous avez besoin, quand vous en avez besoin.