It has been said that if we do not celebrate our successes we will cease to have successes to celebrate. Labour Day is perhaps the perfect “glass half empty/half full” moment. Those that choose to work to prevent workers and, by extension, unions, from securing better working conditions, pensions, robust health and safety legislation and improved benefits so often seem to have the upper hand.
“Working against unions and progress for workers is nothing new and has been part of life for as long as there have been people in the employ of others. The fact that unions remain in the fight for workers is by itself proof that despite powerful forces trying to tear down the labour movement, workers and their representatives are not going anywhere. This is worth celebrating.”, says Labour Council President, Kevin Smith.
Changes in legislation at all levels of government have most certainly made some improvements for workers, but no change in any legislation that benefits working people is made without the efforts of workers. Labour Council VP for Bruce County, Dave Trumble, says that, “With only very limited exceptions no politician wakes up thinking about how to make the lives of workers better. When we think of the desire to improve the lives of workers, it is union representatives that have the needs of workers at the forefront of everything that they do.”
Labour Council VP for Grey County, Chris Stephen, notes that, “Labour Day is the one day of the year when it is expected that we celebrate the successes and the ongoing work of the Labour Movement. In Port Elgin (ON), our region is privileged to have one of the largest parades and celebrations in Ontario. Unions from all across Ontario and affiliate unions of the Grey Bruce Labour Council march with the Unifor Retirees and Unifor.”
The Unifor Retirees partner in the parade and the Unifor Family Education Centre on Shipley Avenue in Port Elgin hosts the entire community in a post parade event that will provide lunch for all who attend. Workers will also tell our story. On Labour Day we must never lose sight of where advocacy for workers comes from.
Workers must tell the story about their struggle to ensure fairness, equity and respect. OPSEU and Education unions along with CUPE members are recent examples of the struggle for fair and reasonable collective agreements and being paid for all hours worked. Unifor and Steelworkers continue to fight for manufacturing jobs while Canada is attacked by external factors such as unjust and illegal tariffs. Building Trades fight daily for improvements to health, safety and mental health.
“Canadians are indeed joining together to stand up for our sovereignty and our jobs, and this is indeed worth celebrating on this Labour Day. The Labour Movement is at the leading edge of this and will make the case for every worker,” adds Smith.
Stephen points out that, “Coming with attacks on sovereignty will be demands for the lowering of labour standards. One such target will be health and safety. Health and safety is at the heart of the Labour Movement and is often where the leadership in the Labour Movement gets the first taste of fighting for the rights of workers. The struggle for the rights of workers has no end and this includes ensuring that workers will be safe and healthy at work. Labour Day is a good day to remind ourselves that fighting for workers has no end date.”
Celebrating the leadership that organized labour exhibits day to day, is a big part of Labour Day and the international stage is very much in the spotlight. We must not forget domestic threats such as Doug Ford’s government and Danielle Smith in Alberta.
With a vast array of unions and leadership from Unifor and the Unifor Retired Workers and the community September 7th will be a day of labour celebration.
Please contact any member of the Grey-Bruce Labour Council at gblcpresident@live.ca if you would like information about the parade and associated activities or to volunteer to assist with the parade. Volunteer activities may include setting up floats, directing traffic, parade marshalling, and other activities normally associated with any parade and celebration.
All community and union members are invited to watch the parade, participate in the parade with their friends and family, to assist with parade / float preparations and volunteer for other duties. Parade participants and volunteers should arrive at the Home Hardware/Shoreline Baptist Church, north end of Port Elgin on Hwy. 21 (Goderich Street) no later than 10:30AM on Sept.7th. The parade will proceed along Goderich Street at 11:00 AM. To alleviate congestion, some floats and participants will join the parade just north or south of the Home Hardware/Shoreline Baptist Church. Parade marshals will be on hand to provide direction. Unifor floats will marshal at the Home Hardware while all others will marshal behind the Shoreline Baptist Church (some overflow from the church may end up in the Home Hardware lot).
The parade will finish at Maple Square. Upon completion of the parade everyone is welcome to make their way to the Unifor Family Education Centre at 115 Shipley Avenue, Port Elgin. There is adequate parking for vehicles at the Centre. In addition, a clearly marked bus service, operating at regular intervals, will bring the participants back and forth to the Unifor Family Education Centre where the celebration will continue after the parade. Lunch will be served at no cost and there will be brief Labour Day speeches from local labour leaders and activists. Join with fellow community, union members, retirees and family members in Port Elgin’s Labour Day celebration and help make this year’s Labour Day Parade the best ever.
The Grey Bruce Labour Council will celebrate 70 years of worker advocacy in Grey and Bruce Counties this year. 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 7th.
