Issue 54 – 25, June 8, 2025
Workers’ Rights Are Falling Fast Around the World
Workers’ rights are the rules that protect people who work for a living. These rights include things like the right to join a union, to strike, and to have a safe workplace. Unfortunately, these rights are getting weaker everywhere, and the situation looks very serious.
A recent report called the 2025 ITUC Global Rights Index shows that workers’ rights are in free fall. This means that many countries are doing a worse job protecting workers than they did in the past. The report looked at 151 countries and found that only seven of them have the best rating for respecting workers’ rights. Ten years ago, 18 countries had this top rating, so the number has almost been cut in half.
The report also shows that workers face many problems. For example, 87% of countries violate the right to strike, and 80% violate the right to negotiate with their bosses. Many workers are not allowed to join or create unions, which makes it harder for them to stand up for their rights. In fact, 75% of countries do not allow workers to freely form or join unions.
Workers are also being hurt in many ways. In some countries, trade union leaders and workers are being arrested or attacked. In five countries—South Africa, Cameroon, Colombia, Guatemala, and Peru—trade unionists were killed in 2025. Workers also experience violence and are detained simply for speaking up or protesting.
The situation is worst in regions like the Middle East and North Africa, where workers face the most violations. Many countries are so unstable because of conflict and war that workers’ rights are almost non-existent.
The report warns that if this trend continues, no country will have the highest level of workers’ rights within the next ten years. This is a serious problem because workers are the backbone of every economy. When their rights are taken away, it affects everyone, not just workers.
Some countries are still making progress. For example, Australia and Mexico have improved their workers’ rights through new laws. But most countries are going in the wrong direction.
Leaders and organizations around the world are calling for change. They want governments to respect workers’ rights, protect trade union leaders, and allow workers to speak up without fear. If we work together, we can stop this decline and rebuild a fairer world where workers are treated with respect and fairness.
Workers’ rights are rapidly getting weaker worldwide, it’s important for everyone to support efforts to protect and strengthen these rights.
Read more - Workers' rights collapse across the world: ITUC Global Rights Index 2025 - International Trade Union Confederation
Read more - Global Rights Index - International Trade Union Confederation
What the Bread Price Fixing Settlement Means for You
Recently, a big lawsuit was settled in Canada about bread prices. This settlement could mean money for many union retirees who bought bread over the past 20 years.
Some big bread companies, including Galen Westen’s, Loblaws, Metro, Sobeys, Walmart Canada, Canada Bread and Giant Tiger, were accused of working together to raise the prices of bread. This is called "price fixing," and it’s illegal because it makes bread more expensive for you.
The companies agreed to pay $500 million to people who bought bread during that time. This is called a "class-action settlement," which helps many people get compensation at once.
If you bought packaged bread (like sliced bread, buns, or rolls) from stores between 2001 and 2021, you might be able to get money.
People who bought bread in Canada, outside of Quebec, and still lived in Canada as of December 31, 2021, can make a claim. Residents of Quebec will have their own process later.
The settlement will offer an online website where you can submit a claim. If you kept receipts from your bread purchases, that might help. But if you don’t have receipts, you can still file a claim for smaller amounts, usually up to $25.
The exact amount you will get is not decided yet. It depends on how many people file claims and how much money is left after paying legal fees. Most people who buy bread for themselves could get up to $25.
This settlement means that people who paid too much for bread because of price fixing might soon receive some money back. It’s also a clear message to companies that they can’t cheat customers by fixing prices.
Read More - How you can get your dough in the $500M Loblaw bread-fixing settlement | CBC News
CURC 15th Constitutional Convention
The Fifteenth Convention of the Congress of Union Retirees of Canada will take place at the Pan Pacific Toronto, 900 York Mills Rd, Toronto, the convention will be held June 17th, to June 19, 2025.
The Convention offers opportunities for networking, learning about new initiatives, and advocating collectively for policies that protect and enhance the union retiree’s quality of life.
Be a delegate, participate in building the union retirement movement forward.
For more information about the convention please email curc@clcctc.ca .