KAWARTHA LAKES-The Lindsay and District Labour Council held it’s first virtual Labour Day event today due to social distancing requirements during the Coronavirus Pandemic.
“The Lindsay and District Labour Council believes that collective Demands for safety, dignity, respect, and fair wages are even more urgent this year, as we live through the COVID–19 pandemic.” organizers stated, “We point out that the COVID-19 crisis has shown what happens when public services are cut, privatized, or neglected. The importance of strong unions, and the value of front-line workers, has never been clearer. Workers and their unions are at the very heart of the recovery.”
This year marks the 25th Annual Labour Day for the Lindsay and District Labour Council. The group met on Zoom at 11am to discuss the year ahead.
“This is our moment to send a message that we have “A Plan For Progress, A Plan for Action.”
The group is calling for “better jobs and better workplace health and safety measures, and a better social safety net”.
Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, issued the following statement to mark Labour Day:
“Every year, on Labour Day, we celebrate the achievements and sacrifice of workers from every sector of our economy. This year is like no other as workers face the many challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
From the doctors, nurses, paramedics, personal support workers and pharmacists who are caring and providing for our sick; to the police and firefighters who are keeping us safe; to the farmers, food processors, truck drivers and grocery store staff who are keeping food on our tables — thank you!
To those who are keeping our lights on, keeping our water safe, keeping our hospitals, stores and facilities clean and to those keeping our buses and trains operating — thank you!”
McNaughton says he has met with almost 150 labour leaders and thousands of workers over the past year and has heard about the work under way to promote healthy and safe workplace practices, pursue training and skills development and create good, well-paying jobs.
