Speaking at the St. John’s District Labour Council’s annual Labour Day celebrations, NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn unveiled the party’s new NL Works plan – a sweeping package of policies designed to protect existing jobs, create new ones, and ensure workers across the province get a better deal.
Addressing a crowd of workers, union leaders, and community members, Dinn called the plan “the most ambitious suite of labour protections Newfoundland and Labrador has seen in decades” and emphasized that local workers must be at the centre of the province’s economic future.
“This plan is about one thing: making sure the people who live and work here benefit first from the wealth they help create,” said Dinn. “Whether it’s through local procurement, training, or fairer compensation, workers deserve a better deal and this plan delivers that.”
The NL Works plan includes:
- Passing anti-scab legislation and restoring card check union certification to protect workers’ rights to organize;
- Establishing a dedicated Occupational Health Clinic to improve workplace safety;
- Strengthening local procurement rules so public tax dollars support jobs here at home, including a mandate to Buy NL/Canadian unless no alternative exists, and stronger local hiring and sourcing requirements for companies receiving government contracts;
- Mandating regional benefits agreements for all new resource projects, to ensure Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are hired first, Indigenous and municipal governments receive their fair share of royalties, and strong environmental and labour standards are enforced.
- Mandate 10 paid sick days for all workers;
- Investing in trades training and upskilling to prepare for the jobs of tomorrow;
- Raising Workers’ Compensation income replacement from 85% to 90%;
- Mandate all OHS inspection reports be published on the provincial government’s website.
Dinn emphasized that these policies are not only about fairness but also economic strategy: keeping more money circulating in the local economy, supporting small businesses, and ensuring communities, especially rural ones, can thrive.
“When we invest those public dollars here at home, we see the ripple effect right across the economy – from workers buying homes here in their communities, all the way down to grabbing a coffee at their local shop on their way to work.”
The announcement is the latest campaign commitment from the NL NDP focused on creating an economy that works for everyday people. Earlier this week, Dinn announced the party would bring in rent control and overhaul childcare to make $10/day daycare more accessible to families.
“This province has the talent, the resources, and the work ethic,” Dinn said. “What we’ve lacked is a government willing to stand up for workers. That’s what we’re offering: leadership that delivers a better deal for Newfoundland and Labrador.”