Media Advisory: Workers' Rights Week to Challenge EI Cuts, Austerity Supported by CLC and Common Causes

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 26, 2013) - Starting on Friday, April 26, the Canadian Labour Congress, in conjunction with Common Causes, is supporting a series of events, including lobby days, rallies, and teach-ins to draw attention to the disastrous cutbacks made to Employment Insurance and other key programs and public services by the Harper government in the name of austerity. The growing list of events and actions is available at www.commoncauses.ca.

On April 26 and 27, there will be lobbies and gatherings at the offices of several Members of Parliament serving on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, which is responsible for reviewing EI issues. These activities will coincide with a major Employment Insurance event organized in downtown Montreal by a coalition in Quebec on April 27.

These events will launch Workers' Rights Week between April 27 and May 4 to protest against the harmful changes to EI and the Conservative government's austerity agenda. The Week of Action will include locally organized May Day protests in various cities on May 1, as well as events observing the National Day of Mourning on April 28, which commemorates workers who have lost their lives on the job.

Common Causes is an assembly of social movements dedicated to defending democracy, the environment, and human rights. Common Causes believes that coordinated action is needed to take a strong stand against the Conservative government's agenda that is changing society in critical areas such as the economy, the environment, labour rights, health care, food safety, education, social programs, culture, civil liberties, peace, and poverty. Website: www.commoncauses.ca Twitter: @Common_Causes

The Canadian Labour Congress, the national voice of the labour movement, represents 3.3 million Canadian workers. The CLC brings together Canada's national and international unions along with the provincial and territorial federations of labour and 130 district labour councils. Web site: www.canadianlabour.ca Follow us on twitter: @CanadianLabour