Labour Fair 2025: Building a workers' first emergency response to the tariff crisis

In episode seven, we are pleased to feature executive director of the Workers’ Action Centre, Deena Ladd. In her keynote address for the 33rd annual Labour Fair at Toronto’s George Brown College, No One Left Behind: Building a Workers’ First Emergency Response to the Tariff Crisis that Unites Us, Ladd discusses the current trade war, the dangers facing workers and a solidarity-driven plan that puts workers first.

Reflecting on what’s needed in a workers’ first approach to the tariff crisis, Ladd says:

“Our communities are already in trouble. And we know that the tariffs imposed are gonna have a ripple impact, far worse than the pandemic's… We desperately need a government strategy that has learned from these past economic crises to ensure that no one gets left behind. ..To make sure that when you are providing supports, that they first of all have to be adequate. That they're not institutionalizing poverty. That they're accessible … And that they're structured in a way that doesn't unintentionally punish people after the fact."

About today’s speaker: 

Deena Ladd has been working to improve wages and working conditions in sectors of work that are dominated with low-wages, violations of rights, precarious and temp work for over 30 years. She has worked to support and develop grassroots training, education and organizing to build the power of workers with groups such as the Fight for $15 and Fairness Campaign, Decent Work and Health Network, the Migrant Rights Network and Justice for Workers. Ladd is one of the founders and executive director of the Toronto Workers’ Action Centre. The Workers’ Action Centre organizes to improve wages and working conditions with low-waged workers, women, racialized and immigrant workers in precarious jobs that face discrimination, violations of rights and no benefits in the workplace.

Clip: Migrant Workers Alliance for Change

Audience Questions read by: Resh Budhu, Ben McCarthy

Transcript of this episode can be accessed at georgebrown.ca/TommyDouglasInstitute or here. 

Image: Deena Ladd  / Used with permission.

Music: Ang Kahora. Lynne, Bjorn. Rights Purchased. 

Intro Voices: Ashley Booth (Podcast Announcer); Bob Luker (Tommy) 

Courage My Friends podcast organizing committee: Chandra Budhu, Ashley Booth, Resh Budhu. 

Produced by: Resh Budhu, Tommy Douglas Institute and Breanne Doyle, rabble.ca. 

Host: Resh Budhu.