The New Westminster & District and Vancouver & District Labour Councils have joined together for a virtual celebration of Labour Day.
Renewed safety concerns from the delta variant and continued restrictions on large gatherings mean that for more than 120,000 union members in the Metro Vancouver region, marking the day will mean sharing solidarity online.
“This will be our second Labour Day held during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Stephen von Sychowski, president of the VDLC. “This pandemic has laid bare the inequality created by our existing systems and that is why Canada’s unions are calling for a strong recovery that centres workers and their families. Recovery planning must include a plan for replacing lost jobs with better ones, decent wages, benefits and a path to unionization while also strengthening the public health care system and disaster-proofing our social safety net.”
The virtual Labour Day event will be broadcast on both Labour Council digital platforms and will feature the second annual Elsie Awards, recognizing rank-and-file union members in four categories: Awesome Union Activist, Dedicated Front Line Worker, Outstanding Shop Steward and Caring Community Activist.
“A strong recovery isn’t possible without workers like these,” said Janet Andrews, Secretary-Treasurer of the NWDLC. “By keeping us fed, healthy, housed and supported workers kept us all afloat through this incredibly difficult time. With a federal election on September 20th we have an opportunity to hold our political leaders accountable, to demand better, and to build a more equitable, inclusive society.”
Labour Day usually draws thousands of workers, families and communities together each year in the Metro region. The virtual celebration is being sponsored by Community Savings Credit Union, Vancity Credit Union and several local unions and will be available starting at 11 a.m. on Sept. 6. It will also feature messages from Premier John Horgan and others.
