Dear Editor
Not the first day called Labour Day, but the strike for the nine hour day by the Toronto printers in 1872 is often called the first official Labour Day in Canada. Opinions vary on this, but for our purposes this assumption will be seen as accurate.
Setting this date is a benchmark permitting us to look at one hundred and fifty-two years of improvements in the lives of workers. Called a celebration, Labour Day is indeed worthy of this title. It does not matter if a worker is unionized or not, the Labour Movement raises the standard of living for all workers. This, amongst a very long list of provisions and benefits attributed to the Labour Movement for all workers is one of the very reasons that corporate elitists, christo-facists, conservative politicians and enablers such as right-wing lobby groups so viciously attack unions. Not only are unions improving the lives of unionized workers, but non-union workers that the foregoing right-wing genre would dearly like to abuse.
Not because there is a desire to set a reasonable floor for wages, but a minimum wage law exists because employers would pay less than this if permitted. No employer is voicing a concern that workers should be paid more, but they lament a complete fabrication that improved wages will translate into increased costs to the consumer. If for no other reasons than obscene CEO wages, stock dividends and self-serve checkouts, this argument has been debunked over and over again.
Celebrations do tell a story. Every celebration of improvements for workers due to social democratic institutions such as unions is a “must tell” story. This Labour Day will be a celebration, and we will celebrate just as loudly in Port Elgin as anywhere in the world. The streets will vibrate to the annual 11AM parade. On September 2nd, this moving event will commence with the parade from the north end of town to Maple Square and then will culminate in a house that Labour built, the Unifor Family Education Centre.
Improvements for workers are never as a result of governments or business acting independently to make such improvements. They only come about because the collective strength of workers makes it happen. However, governments and business will act independently and with enthusiasm to take provisions and benefits away. Not only sitting governments, but “would be” governments will proudly announce how, if elected, they will curtail and drive the legislative agenda backwards to take from workers as much as possible.
Along with our celebrations it is this urgent discussion that must be had. Attacks by governments and “would be” governments are hardly new. In Ontario Frost, Harris and Ford are past and living examples of the rabid dogs frothing at the mouth to attack workers. Federally, we look no further back than Harper and no further ahead than a possible Poilievre government that has promised an existential attack on unions by saying his government would enact “right to work” legislation.
The world of business and the right-wing should give the deepest consideration before pushing these attacks and threatened attacks. Not to make sure they get it done, but to understand that workers and unions are not about to simply give up the fight. In fact, the opposite is true, and Frost, Harris, Ford and Harper all have bruises from taking on workers. Be rest assured that the Labour Movement and workers in general have no intentions of going quietly into the night and, on this Labour Day, workers will be discussing, preparing and mobilizing the campaigns to fightback.
Beware the giant that is the collective strength of the working class for it has turned the tide of history before and it is up to the task as many times as it is required. This time in our history is no different. So, do enjoy Labour Day for all its traditional reasons, but make no mistake about the resolve of workers to take “no steps backwards”.
Canada’s unions are marking Labour Day by launching “Workers Together: For a Better Deal”. This national campaign unites workers against greedy corporations and politicians who fail us. Workers have had enough; the richest among us are reaping all the benefits while everyone else struggles to get by. Workers, unions, and community leaders will unite with clear goals: amplify workers’ voices, expose anti-worker politicians, and elect pro-worker candidates.
The Grey Bruce Labour Council has been the voice of workers in Grey and Bruce Counties since 1956. It is with the unions affiliated to Labour Council, the Unifor Retirees, Unifor, the community and all workers and sponsors and helpers such as those graciously donating money, materials and space (such as union friends and affiliates, Home Hardware, Shoreline Baptist Church, Maple Square, Saugeen Shores and many more), that we invite everyone to Port Elgin on September 2nd for the parade and a community BBQ.
Grey-Bruce Labour Council.
