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We demand respect for people, work and communities

Labour Day and social justice

It’s far more than just another holiday, marking the end of summer and the start of the school year. On Labour Day each year, thousands of union members celebrate in cities and towns across the country, honouring the historic struggles of working people to build a better future. From the very beginning, Canada’s unions adopted the principle that “What we wish for ourselves, we wish for all,” demanding social and economic justice as well as better wages.

Since the founding of The Council of Canadians in 1985, the Council and the labour movement have shared common values: defending the public interest, working for collective solutions to the issues of the day, and knowing that our shared prosperity is built on a strong foundation of public services. Together we have challenged a corporate agenda that seeks to privilege profits over social responsibility and undermines the standards that working people have won over generations. We demand respect for people, work, and communities.

Over this summer, we have seen extreme weather punish communities large and small, even as conservative politicians do all they can to sabotage climate action from any level of government. After years of delay, the Sustainable Jobs Act was finally brought into law, to help guide the transition of high-emitting industries to a sustainable future. As a construction worker, I have seen how it’s possible to create thousands of good green jobs when the right policies are put into place. Let’s keep working to make more of those good policies a reality.

For so many Canadians, the cost of living and cost of housing have become the number one priority in their lives. This year has seen many union campaigns for better wages that have succeeded after tough bargaining and the threat of withdrawing labour. But those without unions are still falling behind, and more needs to be done to raise incomes across the board – because it’s economic and social insecurity that is fuelling the anger that is feeding the right-wing populism sweeping the entire world.

This summer I visited England shortly after the terrible racist riots that targeted refugee shelters and mosques. It was deeply disturbing to see images of thugs setting fires to a hotel housing refugee families or attacking people who looked South Asian. But tens of thousands came out to demonstrate their solidarity with migrants and repudiate the xenophobic narrative of the right. It was a reminder of how vital the work of equity and anti-racism is to our collective future.

Here in Canada, Pierre Poilievre is trying to direct people’s frustration into a Trump-style political movement and is still leading in the polls. In response, the Canadian Labour Congress is ramping up a massive education campaign to warn union members about the implications of a Conservative majority. Labour’s message also reminds people of what workers win when they fight for justice – things like pharmacare, dental care, and making it easier for people to join unions and improve their lives.

The Council of Canadians has worked with the labour movement since our inception. We have stood shoulder-to-shoulder to fight unjust trade deals; to assert that water is a human right; to defend public health care and public services; and to uphold democracy and global justice. On Labour Day, we honour the frontline workers who serve and support our families and our communities. We all know that we make the path to a more just future by walking together.

John Cartwright

John Cartwright

John Cartwright was elected Chairperson of the Council of Canadians at the Annual Members Meeting held in June 2019. He is the Past President of the Toronto & York Region Labour Council, representing 200,000 union members who work in every sector of the economy.