Union retirees know all to well that our problems are economic, and our solutions are political. Let us celebrate the political successes over the year, starting with new federal program for Dental Health, that nearly two million seniors will have access. The NDP negotiated the plan so seniors will not have to avoid going to the dentist because they cannot afford. Pharmacare, the NDP reached a deal this spring to introduce the first phase of a National Pharmacare Program that includes coverage for birth control and diabetes medication. We will continue our lobby in seeing this legislation through the Senate to become law.
The Congress of Union Retirees of Canada, taking the serious problems union retirees and seniors experienced during the pandemic to an international and domestic fight back. Joining with over 400 like minded groups globally, this spring we took our fight to the UN, a resolution passed in a Working Group at the UN to have the General Assembly consider drafting a Convention of the Rights of the Aging.
This October 1st, International Day of Older Person we will be organizing activities across the country with other Seniors Organizations on Climate Change. We are strongly supporting initiatives to reverse the causes of the planet’s wildfires, floods, and extreme heat waves.
Retirement Pension Plans have always been the goal of our union retiree activism. In the last year, 216,265 more workers have a pension plan, and we commit to the goal, that one day every worker has a workplace pension plan.
As an affiliate of the Canadian Labour Congress, CURC is very encouraged to support the campaign launched this Labour Day, “Together: For a Better Deal”. As Union Retirees continue to struggle under the weight of the affordability crisis, union retirees are coming together to challenge the corporate greed and demand politicians prioritize people over profits. Let us also be mindful that the federal conservative platform threatens many of our gains.
Building the union retiree movement this year has been extremely exciting, this labour day we can report, two new national affiliates representing thousands of union retirees. We also have more Unions facilitating union retiree organization within.
We continue to elevate our voices; we will be heard.