Community Unemployed Help Centre (CUHC) is a non-profit organization primarily dedicated to providing information, advice and representation to unemployed workers in Manitoba experiencing Employment Insurance problems. We also engage in broader social policy issues related to unemployment.

The information on this website is intended for general education purposes only and should not be applied to any individual's specific case. As such, Community Unemployed Help Centre is unable to assume responsibility for any actions taken in response to the provided information. For assistance with your particular situation please contact the CUHC directly.

Important Announcement

Community Unemployed Help Centre will now be providing assistance to Manitobans with Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) problems. Further Information to come.

Employment Insurance or Unemployment Insurance

In 1997, the Government of Canada changed the name of the program from Unemployment Insurance to Employment Insurance. We use the two terms interchangeably, although we prefer the old name as, in our view, it better reflects the program’s purpose of providing income support during periods of unemployment.

The Latest

VERY BAD NEWS!  THE EI BOARD OF REFEREES IS BEING DISOLVED AND REPLACED BY GOVERNMENT APPOINTED EMPLOYEES AND LESS OF THEM. HOW WILL THIS AFFECT EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLIENTS? Read the excerpt from the new budget here or at the parliamentary website.

CUHC will be participating in the 11th ANNUAL RUN for RIGHTS in WINNIPEG to raise money in support of Winnipeg organizations working for Social Justice and Human Rights.

Statistics Canada releases the results of its 'Labour Force Survey' on the first Friday of every month. This survey provides monthly statistics of employment and unemployment in Canada, including the current unemployment rate.  

Each year the Canada Employment and Insurance Commission is required under the EI Act to monitor and assess the impact of the legislation and program delivery. Once completed, the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development tables the Monitoring and Assessment report in Parliament.

     EDUCATION

Through the efforts of the Community Unemployed Help Centre, the University of Winnipeg will be offering two - 3 hour credit courses in the 2011/2012 school year.  Introduction to Advocacy will be offered this fall and Poverty and Policy in the winter.

These courses will be available through the University of Winnipeg's Urban and Inner City Studies program.

CUHC executive director Neil Cohen on Parliament Hill speaking at a Public Service Alliance News conference on March 21, 2012.

Kristine Barr, Chair of the Manitoba Social Services Appeal Board speaking at CUHC's Annual General Meeting on March 22, 2012.

Unemployed Manitobans needing assistance with Employment and Income Assistance benefits will now have  advocacy help from the Community Unemployed Help Centre. Left to right: Neil Cohen Executive Director, Community Unemployed Help Centre (CHUC), Peter Bjornson, Minister of Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade, Elliot Leven, Board Chair of CUHC.

    ENDOWMENT FUND  

Community Unemployed Help centre has established a permanent endowment fund with the Winnipeg Foundation in order to secure the Centre's long-term future.

Donations to the endowment fund are matched in part by the Winnipeg Foundation and invested in perpetuity. The Centre then receives annual income from the fund in order to support its services and activities. CUHC is a registered charity and receipts for Income Tax purposes will be issued for all donations. If you wish to donate to the Endowment Fund, click here now CUHC Endowment Fund    For information on the Winnipeg foundation's lastest giving challenge click below.

     DONATIONS

If you would rather donate directly to Community Unemployed Help Centre click here.

If you would like to donate through CanadaHelps.ca click here.

If you would like to Donate through "Run For Rights" Charity Run in Winnipeg this June 2, 2012 by sponsoring a runner/walker or by participating, click here to keep apprised of developments.

All donations are tax receiptable.

    CENTRE WINS BENEFITS FOR FORMER TEMBEC WORKERS

Community Unemployed Help Centre wins Employment Insurance benefits for

Former Tembec workers in Pine Falls.

When Tembec workers were locked out by their employer last September, they applied for EI and were advised they would not be eligible for benefits during a labour dispute. The two unions representing the workers, USWA and COPE contacted Community Unemployed Help Centre for assistance. CUHC agreed to represent the workers to help them obtain their benefits. CUHC cited a Manitoba Labour decision and argued that the employer had no intention of settling with the workers, but had clearly intended to sell the plant. CUHC argued that when the employer had attempted to extract concessions from the unions in excess of 30%, it was attempting to make the plant more attractive for a potential buyer. When the unions refused the employer’s offer, they were locked out.

The federal government has always maintained that denying EI benefits to workers during a labour dispute allows them to remain neutral on such matters and not influence the outcome of the dispute. CUHC argued the employer had no intention of resolving the labour dispute and the workers should be entitled to EI benefits.

Community Unemployed Help Centre represented the workers before two separate EI Boards of Referees. One board allowed the appeals and the other did not. CUHC then appealed those it lost, and the federal government appealed those CUHC had won. Recently, Community Unemployed Help Centre was advised that the government would be withdrawing its appeals and conceding to CUHC on those cases the Centre had won. This is an important victory for the Tembec workers.

 

In the News

EI STUDY ASKED RECIPIENTS TO CONSIDER MOVING!!- CBC - May 17

NO SUCH THING AS A BAD JOB? - CBC Radio, The Current with ED of CUHC, Neil Cohen - May 16

EI Rules Need 'Teeth' to Get People to Work, Finley Says - CBC - May 16

Should EI Recipients be Allowed to Turn Down Work? see the ballot box - CBC - May 15

EI Changes Need Debate, NDP Says - CBC News - May 15

EI Rule Change: Flaherty Says No Such Thing As Bad Job - The Huffington Post - May 14

EI Reform Set To Redefine Suitable Work For Job Seekers - Globe and Mail - May 14

New EI Rules Could Force Unemployed Into Jobs They Don't Want - Globe and Mail - May 4

Budget Bill Gives Conservatives Broad Power Over EI Rules!- Globe and Mail - May 3

Ottawa Plans Change to Seasonal EI - Herald News - May 2

Employees Still Awaiting Details...Jobs at EI axed? - The Western Star - April 24

Easter Concerned About Changes to EI - CBC - April 20

Employment Insurance Benefits Hard to Access - Market Watch - April 19

Ottawa Looks to Unemployed Canadians to Fill Labour Shortages - Globe and Mail - April 19

Employment Insurance Recipients ... Take Jobs Filled by Foreign Workers - The Vancouver Sun - April 19

Canada Needs Temporary Unemployment Assistance Program - HR Reporter - April 18

Province of Manitoba / New Release - ENHANCED SUPPORT FOR MANITOBANS REQUIRING HELP OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME ASSISTANCE - BJORNSON - April 10

Federal Budget 2012: Ottawa Axes National Council on Welfare - The Star - March 29

Georgetti Says Budget Fails on Jobs and Pensions - Canadian Labour Congress - March 29

Federal Budget Highlights - CBC News - March 29

EXCLUSIVE: Budget to Reduce Penalties for Earning Income on EI - Global BC - March 28

Saskatchewan has Fewer EI Claimants - The Star Phoenix - March 23

Ottawa Calls RCMP on Manitoba Manager - Winnipeg Free Press - March 10

Ethics Probe Requested For Federal Office Move in Quebec - CTV News - February 27

Islanders protest closure of EI Centre - CBC News - February 18

Calls to EI Complaints Office Skyrocket - Globe and Mail - February 2

Canada Chops Employment Insurance Staff, Leaving Jobless in the Lurch - The Starr - January 29

EI Financing Agency Spends Millions Doing Nothing!! - CBC News - January 19

$450M Class Action Lawsuit File Against Ottawa - The Star - January 19

Interview With Neil Cohen at CKUW Radio Regarding Employment Insurance

Inside Canada's Battered EI System - CBC - January 14

EI Claim Wait Pushed Man Over Edge - Journal Pioneer - January 5

Waiting Game: Falls Man Among Many Waiting for EI - Niagara Falls Review - January 5

Tax The Poor: Governments Are Ganging Up - Vancouver Sun - January 4

Some Waiting for EI Looking to Social Assistance - CBC News - January 4

Foster Parents Seeking to Adopt, Get Break - TheRecord - January 4

2011

Claim Filing Log Jam Ham MP Furious With Feds - Winnipeg Free Press - December 31

Welfare Fills Gap as Jobless Wait for EI - Winnipeg Free Press with Neil Cohen from CUHC - December 30

EI Queue Has Ballooned Since Service Canada Staff Cuts - Globe and Mail - December 28

EI Wait Months for Tens of Thousands - CBC - December 23

New Commissioner to the EI Program Appointed - Canada News Centre - December 22

EI Worker Shortage Means Slow Processing - CBC - December 21

EI Coverage Falls Below 40% - CPPA - December 16

Festering EI Backlog Prompts Pre-Christmas Violence - Globe and Mail - December 16

Penashue Accused of Meddling in EI Service Cuts - CBC News - December 14

Minister Accuses EI Union of Working to Rule - Globe and Mail - November 29

EI Eligibility Musing Draw Fire from NDP - Telegraph Journal - November 28

The Mowat Centre and Employment Insurance Report - Progressive Economics Forum - November 16

Overworked EI Call Centre Staff at Odds With Boss' Claim - Globe and Mail - November 16

Is Our EI System Broken? Only 46% Received Unemployment Benefits Last Year - The Star - November 15

Tory Minister Banks on Automation to Ease EI Backlog - Globe and Mail - November 15

Employment Insurance Premium Rate Report - Digital Journal - November 14

Service Canada Employees Told To Keep Mum On Existance Of Complaints Office - Globe and Mail - Nov. 8

End Unemployment Caused by EI Rules - Winnipeg Free Press - November 8

Canada Unprepared for Slowdown, Must Fix EI - Market Wire - November 4

How to Make EI Fairer for All Canadians C. D. Howe Institute - Digital Journal - November 2

Service Canada, EI Call Centre Employees Protest Looming Job Loss - The Spec - October 18

Calgary Mom With Cancer Denied Sickness Benefits Despite EI Ruling - The Star - October 11

EI Call Centres in NS, PEI to be Downsized - CBC News - August 22

Fewer Canadians Eligible For EI - Globe and Mail - June 27

EI Umpire Rejects Decision to Allow Parents of Twins Separate EI Leave - Ottawa Citizen - June 16

Employer's Council Wants Better Control of EI - The Telegram - June 10

Government Must Focus on Jobs for Young Workers - CLC - June 10

No Employment Insurance for Temps in Canada - ABS-CBN North America News Bureau - April 27

Too Many Unemployed Being Denied Benefits - CLC - April 13

The Small Change EI Premium Rebate - CCPA - March 29

New Budget - Do More to Help the Unemployed - CLC - March 23

Canadians Need Better Jobs and More of Them - CLC - March 11

Poor Job Prospects Push Many Older Workers to Retire Too Soon - Vancouver Sun - February 25

Next Federal Budget Must Put JOBS First - CLC - February 4

Update on Ottawa Couple with Twins Wanted Double Parental EI - Globe and Mail - January 28

Pressure Rises to Tackle EI Inequality - Globe and Mail - January 20

Yesterday's EI is Failing Today's Canada - The Montreal Gazette - January 17

Government Opts for Secrecy as it Lays Off Workers - Winnipeg Sun - January 10, 2011

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