TORONTO, ON September 5, 2011 – Hundreds of Workers United union members marched through the streets of Toronto to celebrate Labour Day. As union members from across Canada are still mourning the loss of Jack Layton, the NDP, along with Olivia Chow and Mike Layton, lead the parade. Thousands of union members marched from University Avenue across Queen Street West, to Dufferin Street and into the CNE grounds.
Organized by the Toronto and York Region Labour Council, the theme of this years’ labour day was “Public services for all”. John Cartwright, president of the Labour Council, called on all unions to participate in this years’ parade to show City Hall and Mayor Ford that Toronto’s labour community is a force – we will not stand idly by while our public services are dismantled and unionized public service jobs replaced with contracted out non-union services.
Workers United Canadian Director and International Vice-President, Alex Dagg, marched with the Toronto contingent, “We have a strong union with lots to celebrate! I’m proud to see Workers United members from so many workplaces marching together today. Today we celebrate our accomplishments, tomorrow we get back to work. Now more than ever, we must to look to the future and protect the good jobs unions have fought to create over the years.”
Workers United members from across the GTA marched with their families, friends, and union brothers and sisters. Paulina Bothelo, 45 year employee of Metro Sportswear and 30 year member of the union, said “I have participated in the labour day parade almost every year for 30 years. I march because the union is important, the union protects the workers.” Paulina and her co-workers are preparing for contract negotiations; she is on the bargaining committee at Metro Sportswear, where they manufacture the widely popular Canada Goose jackets.
Labour Day originated in the 1880’s when the Toronto Typographical Union struck for a 58-hour work week; many of the strikers worked for George Brown, then editor of the Toronto Globe. On this years’ labour day, more than century later, 8000 OPSEU members working at Toronto Colleges are on strike, including employees of George Brown College in Toronto. For more information on supporting striking OPSEU members: www.opseu.org
For Pictures and News coverage of Workers United at Labour Day
- http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/09/05/toronto-labour-parade.html?cmp=rss
- http://www.facebook.com/WorkersUnitedCanada