PSAC North Labour Day Message from REVP Julie Docherty Labour Day marks one of the most important dates on the Canadian calendar. It really deserves to be on par with Canada Day. It’s that significant. While it is, of course, a celebration by Canada’s labour movement of the contribution of workers to every aspect of society, it is also a joyful occasion for every citizen and resident. Everyone is a worker at some time in their life and everyone has derived huge benefits from the trade unionists who came before us. In 1872, when our predecessors were made sick and were dying from overwork, they faced down every grim tactic the government and employers could throw at them for the right to form a union. The “Seditious Conspiracy” law held that it was a crime to take collective action for higher wages or shorter hours. So dire were their circumstances that not even jail, punishment from employers, beatings and firings were enough to stop them. Their demands? They wanted a 58‐hour work week and the rest it would give them to heal their bodies and spirits. They wanted a living wage that didn’t leave them in grinding poverty. The Toronto Typographical Union strikers, 24 of whom were jailed, were the driving force behind a 10,000 person march in Toronto that finally led to the Trade Unions Act. Who were the beneficiaries of this fight waged by these first trade unionists? The answer: everyone. The current crop of bumper stickers that proudly proclaim “The Labour Movement: The folks who brought you the weekend,” refer back to this first victory, 140 years ago. Legalizing unions changed Canada ‐ profoundly and for the better. Is Maternity Leave a good thing that benefits every family? You bet it is. So are laws regulating workplace health and safety, Medicare, Workers’ Compensation, Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, public education, human rights protections, Employment Insurance, vacation time, overtime pay and on and on. Trade unionists have never sought to achieve gains just for themselves. That’s because although we are workers, we are also mothers, fathers, children, grandparents, community members, neighbours, friends. When we throw our collective power behind an idea, we are intent on making progress for everyone, in and out of the workplace. It is therefore deeply disturbing the Stephen Harper government in Ottawa and the powerful corporate interests that support him have had so much success in disconnecting us from our history. They continue to pump millions of dollars into convincing the public that unions are the problem when, in fact, we are and always have been the solution for millions and millions of people. The Harper forces have also had a fair bit of success convincing the public that public services can be delivered without people. This is highly counter‐intuitive, I know, but such is the power of media messaging. That is why the PSAC “We Are All Affected” by public service cuts campaign is so vital. It exposes the lie that public services can be delivered without public sector workers. They cannot. It also serves to expose a simple truth: that the Harper government is intent on taking apart, brick‐by‐brick, long‐standing public services and the immeasurable support and assistance they have provided to all of us. For me, our Labour Day “Feed the People” BBQs, in Yellowknife, Whitehorse and Iqaluit perfectly express not only what Labour Day is about, but what the labour movement is about. We strive to create bounty for all, not just a few. We use our collective power to make positive change for all. That is who we are and who we have always been. We are all workers. We are all members of our society. We all wear at least two hats. Let us not forget our history and the accomplishments we have achieved. Happy Labour Day! In Solidarity, Julie Docherty Regional Executive Vice‐President, North Public Service Alliance of Canada
Posted on: Mon, 02 Sep 2013 15:29:03 +0000