TORONTO, ON – September 6, 2021 — For more than a century in Canada, labour councils, local union affiliates’ workers and their families, and others in the community have come together for one day every September to recognize and celebrate the central role workers play in our society and the hard-fought benefits achieved by the labour movement. There are Labour Day celebrations/events taking place across the country, including many in Ontario.
The 2021 Labour Day theme is Workers Are the Recovery. The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) encourages unions and labour councils to take action and join the call for a strong pandemic recovery that centres workers and their families. A recovery that must include a plan for replacing lost jobs with better ones.
This Labour Day, we reaffirm our solidarity and commitment to move forward together to ensure healthy and safe schools, workplaces and communities, because a solid publicly-funded education system is essential for Ontario’s future.
The federal election is underway and the next municipal and provincial elections are on the horizon. It is more important than ever, for union members to show strength and solidarity by celebrating and participating in Labour Day events in your local community. We urge everyone in the province to join us in our efforts to build for a better tomorrow.
OSSTF/FEESO president Karen Littlewood says, “the entire Provincial Executive is focused on pressuring government officials, at all levels, to take real steps to improve safety for all and ensure an equitable recovery.”
“Now is the time for investing in the people and services so that there can be a strong, sustainable recovery. We must remain vigilant against those who wish to pursue an agenda of cuts and austerity,” added Littlewood.
OSSTF/FEESO is involved in labour advocacy on a variety of levels and we contribute to the greater good, not only in the education sector in Ontario, but also globally, with our commitment to national and international labour activism.
When workers unite, they make things better for everyone. OSSTF/FEESO members are encouraged to celebrate Labour Day by coming together and making a commitment to take action not just today but every day, in the pursuit of a future where everyone can #MoveForwardTogether.