UFCW and labour leaders fight for Canadian workers in Washington

Washington, D.C. – February 13, 2025 – UFCW Canada National President Shawn Haggerty joined a delegation of Canadian and American labour leaders yesterday in Washington, D.C., to meet with the Canadian premiers to discuss the damage that U.S. tariffs will have on workers and industries on both sides of the border.

The meetings between labour leaders and premiers focused on the economic consequences of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods and services, emphasizing how these measures threaten jobs, increase costs for businesses and consumers, and weaken the long-standing economic partnership between Canada and the United States.

Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, says that 1.5 million jobs could be affected within the first year of U.S. tariffs, which will also impact the cost of living.

One of those leaders was Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, who says 1.5 million jobs could be affected within the first year of U.S. tariffs, which she said would also impact the cost of living.

As part of broader efforts to push back against tariffs, labour leaders made the case for policies that strengthen the economic ties that support good jobs on both sides of the border.

"Our union's top priority is to protect our members, especially our 40,000 UFCW members who work in manufacturing and food production," says National President Shawn Haggerty. "Thousands of our UFCW members work in supply-managed sectors like poultry and dairy, who face growing threats from these trade disruptions. These are vital sectors with jobs in communities that rely on them to thrive, often in rural communities where they are the largest employers."

Now, more than ever, is the time to shop for food products made in Canada by union workers: check out our list of food products made by UFCW members on our Great Canadian Food Products page.