THUNDER BAY – The Labour Day picnic returned to Current River Park on Monday.
Carlos Santander-Maturana, president of the Thunder Bay and District Labour Council, said this is another year to celebrate working people, and give back to the community.
“This event is essentially about connecting with community groups and unions affiliated to the Labour Council to reflect upon our gains in the last year or so. Also to develop the strong solidarity ties that we need in order to face the challenges for the next fiscal year.
“We are facing a very unfriendly government in Ontario who is doing everything in order to undermine worker rights and community.”
Santander-Maturana said tough collective bargaining negotiations in Ontario are on the minds of the people and the union affiliated with the Labour Council.
“In particular, there is a history of the current government forcing back to work legislation.
“Perhaps the most significant win happened at a federal level with the NDP, with the support of all the parties in the House, passed anti-scab legislation that's going to bring stability to the labour, less disruption, less problems with picket lines, less problems with the scab trying to cross picket lines (and) creating violence in the in the picket lines.
“We don't want to see that, we want to see less disruption in the workplace and less hour laws so our economy is going to take off,” he said.
Santander-Maturana said this is a long-standing tradition in Canada of over 157 years.
“It's also to connect with union members or community members, in particular, workers who are not members of a union who otherwise are not going to be able to listen to the message that the union needs to deliver about our society and where we have to move on to get a fair and more decent society.”
Between 1,800 and 2,000 people attended the picnic, he said.
“It's beautiful to see the support of the community. Even if you are not partaking in the picnic, we can see the number of people who are going through Cumberland Street, honking their cars, waving and ensuring that we are online with their beliefs.”
