Labour's Stand on UI

Unemployment Insurance is Canada’s most important income support program for workers. Last year, more than two million workers received some $13 billion in benefits. An information paper prepared by the Canadian Labour Congress outlines the problems with the current UI program, and the solutions that the labour movement would like to see implemented.

The paper points out that the Unemployment/Employment Insurance program has been repeatedly cut since its highpoint in the mid-1970s, most recently by the Liberal government in the early 1990s. Today, only about four in every 10 unemployed workers collect UI benefits, down from 80 per cent in 1990. Only one in three unemployed women collect benefits, down from 70% in 1990.

Unemployment insurance coverage has shrunk mainly because of changes to program rules which make it much harder for workers to qualify for both regular and maternity/parental benefits, and which also cut the length of time for which benefits can be collected.

With support from many anti-poverty, women’s and social justice organizations, the labour movement has been calling for a uniform UI entrance requirement of 360 hours across the country. We have also called for benefits to be increased by basing them on at least 60% of earnings, and on the best 12 weeks of earnings.

We need a modernized UI program which suits the needs of workers in today’s job market. UI should provide adequate, temporary income support for unemployed workers, access to decent maternity and parental benefits, and training for all workers.

If you'd like to read the full information paper, click here to download it in PDF format (55 kb).