Filipino BC Stands with Workers (Unpaid Work Won’t Fly)

Our Statement of Solidarity with CUPE, Flight Attendants, and Workers Across Canada

AUGUST 17, 2025

Filipino BC stands shoulder-to-shoulder with CUPE, flight attendants, and workers across Canada in their ongoing fight to protect and expand the rights of all workers. The labour movement has long secured essential protections that benefit everyone—fair wages, workplace safety standards, parental leave, and protection from discrimination and harassment. These victories, won through collective struggle, have shaped a more just and equitable society.

Still, far too many workers face unfair conditions on the job. One of the most pressing concerns at the bargaining table is the reality that significant portions of work often go unpaid. This is essential labour and it must be recognized and fairly compensated. There should be no such thing as free labour in Canada—every hour of work deserves wages, dignity, and respect. Anything less undermines the very foundation of fairness that the labour movement has fought so hard to build.

Filipinos have played a pivotal role in labour movements worldwide. From organizing efforts in the Philippines to working on the frontlines as farmworkers in the United States and contributing to union leadership across Canada, the Filipino community has always recognized the transformative power of labour activism. The connection between labour rights and civil rights is deeply rooted in our collective history, and we honour those who fought tirelessly for justice in all forms.

We understand that the fight for workers’ rights is never just about individual workplaces; it is about building a society where fairness, dignity, and equality prevail. Today, we stand united with the labour movement, recognizing the importance of their efforts to safeguard the rights won through generations of struggle and to achieve new victories for all workers.

In these times, solidarity is more vital than ever.

As members of the global Filipino diaspora committed to justice, we amplify the voices of workers and their unions striving for equitable wages, safe workplaces, and access to essential social supports. With CUPE, flight attendants, and workers across Canada, we also raise concern over the repeated invocation of Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, which undermines trust in free collective bargaining, prolongs disputes, and signals that corporate interests matter more than workers’ rights.

We commend the tireless efforts of unions to ensure no one is left behind, and we stand unwavering in our commitment to supporting their work. Together, we will continue to build a brighter and more inclusive future for everyone.

In solidarity and struggle,

RJ Aquino | Chair, Filipino BC

Kristina Corpin-Moser | Executive Director, Filipino BC