Labour Day celebrates workplace achievements over the years

Labour Day is just around the corner and for many, it's a long weekend.

Labour and union leaders across the north want the public to remember that the day is an opportunity to reflect on how the workplace has improved because of the work of unions.

Labour groups across the north are holding many fun-filled events to celebrate those achievements.

“There's the show and shine. There's a parade of flags. There's a barbecue," said Tara Maszczakiewicz of the Sault Ste. Marie and District Labour Council.

"There's also going to be booths where unions can talk about the work that they've been doing (and) the gains that they've made.”

Northern labour councils say Labour Day is an opportunity to learn about past improvements because of unions -- and changes they are still striving to achieve.

“(Without) unions, there wouldn't be five-day workdays or five-day work week, said Jessica Montgomery of the Sudbury & District Labour Council.

"There wouldn't be a cap of hours that you can work in a week. There wouldn't be health and safety legislation.”

Labour and union leaders across the north want the public to remember that the day is an opportunity to reflect on how the workplace has improved because of the work of unions. (Photo from video)

“We just got federally anti-scab legislation," Maszczakiewicz added.

"And now we need to look at that at a provincial level, as well, to protect workers rights. We are looking at anti-heat legislation.”

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Maszczakiewicz said the main goal of Labour Day is to make people more comfortable with unions and to let the community know that unions continue to look for improvements for the workforce.

“The benefit of unions is really the communication structure and the organization," she said.

"So we all want the same thing. We all want better working conditions. We all want to be in safe working environments. Sometimes people think of labour in terms of wages only, but that's not really what we're all about. We're all about better working conditions for all workers, not just those in a union.”

To find details on Labour Day events being held in cities across the north, visit the Canadian Labour Congress website.

Meanwhile, the annual picnic in North Bay has been cancelled this year.