Labour Day 2017 Finally an Opportunity for Working People to Celebrate

  • Page Views 1850
  • BURNABY, British Columbia,- The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) in British Columbia issues the following statement: Every year at this time, labour leaders are asked for their thoughts on the importance of Labour Day, and each year we talk about the history of the labour movement, the gains we have made for working people, unionized or not, and the importance of solidarity as we stand up to anti-worker and anti-union governments.

    For sixteen years, more than a generation of working people have had to fight to protect their rights from a right-wing BC Liberal government that cared more about its wealthy and well-connected donors than about the rest of us. Finally, with Premier John Horgan and the first BC NDP government since 2001, working people really do have something to celebrate this Labour Day.

    We know the Legislature will be called into session sometime in September, marking the first time working people don’t have to worry about which group of workers will have their contracts torn up, or whose jobs will be privatized. This coming legislative session, our new government will begin the hard work of restoring the notion that government can be a force for good, and not just to implement the wish lists of the rich.

    This Labour Day, working people can celebrate a return to balance in our economy, where all people benefit from a growing economy, not just those with a vested interest. We can celebrate an end to the influence of big money in our elections, the beginning of a $10 per day child care system, significant improvements to our K-12 education system after years of confrontation and neglect, and a concerted effort to finally take meaningful action on the epidemic of opioid overdoses.

    Labour Day is a celebration of the power of working people coming together to demand what’s right. Decent wages, solid benefits and retirement with dignity. Social and economic justice and responsible stewardship of our resources and our environment. No benefits that workers enjoy was ever “given” to us—not the weekend, not sick leave, not overtime, not even the 8-hour day—working people united and fought for them.

    Finally we once again have a government that understands that history and that shares our values. And that’s truly something to celebrate.

    Happy Labour Day to everyone, from all 87,000 CUPE members across British Columbia.

    CUPE BC is the largest union in British Columbia, representing more than 87,000 women and men delivering important public services in nearly every community in the province.

    Share

    New Posts Recently publish post More

    • 20 November 2024
      1 day ago No comment

      Surrey Tree Lighting Festival welcomes Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist Phil Wizard on Nov. 23 Canadian artist and athlete to host breakdance demonstration

      Surrey, B.C. – The City of Surrey is proud to announce that Canadian breakdancer and 2024 Olympic Gold Medalist Philip Kim, also known as Phil Wizard, will host a breakdance demonstration at the 14th annual Surrey Tree Lighting Festival & Holiday Market at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23. ...

    • Photo by the Canadian Armed Forces.
      14 November 2024
      1 week ago No comment

      How Filipinos contribute to Canada’s diverse military

      As one of the biggest racialized populations in Canada, Filipinos are helping build a diverse and inclusive society. Filipinos are found in almost every aspect of life in the country, including the military. In the lead-up to this year’s commemoration of Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week, Statistics Canada on ...

    • 07 November 2024
      2 weeks ago No comment

      Marcos congratulates Trump

      President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines has congratulated Donald Trump for winning the November 5, 2024 U.S. presidential election. “President Trump has won, and the American people have triumphed. I congratulate them on their victory in an exercise that showed the world the strength of American values,” Marcos ...

    • Pope Francis addresses the crowd from the window of the apostolic palace overlooking St. Peter's square during the Angelus prayer on October 27, 2024 in The Vatican.
      04 November 2024
      2 weeks ago No comment

      Pope prays for Kristine victims in Philippines

      MANILA, Philippines — Pope Francis has offered prayers for Filipinos affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine. At Sunday’s Angelus address at the Vatican, the 87-year-old pontiff reportedly mentioned praying for the victims of Kristine. “I am close to the population of the Philippines, struck by a powerful cyclone. May ...

    • 04 November 2024
      2 weeks ago No comment

      Duterte: no apology, no excuses for drug war

      Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on October 28, 2024 offered no apologies or excuses for his actions as he faced a Senate investigation into his widely criticized bloody war on drugs for the first time. Before reading his prepared statement during the hearing of the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee, ...