NUPGE President urges workers to reflect on the “fundamental values of fairness, compassion, equality and dignity” this long weekend.
While many Manitobans will be loading up their cars and RVs before heading out to their favourite lake-side spot for one last hurrah at enjoying some much-deserved summer heat, NUPGE President James Clancy wants to remind Canadians on this Labour Day of the struggles facing all workers.
In the most recent edition of his recurring online commentaries, Clancy notes that “Labour Day is a time to reflect on the fundamental values of fairness, compassion, equality and dignity that generations of workers have fought to establish in Canada.”
The economic crisis of the past year has served as a sobering reminder of how quickly the rights and privileges some workers enjoy can vanish.
Thousands of Canadians have lost their jobs, pension plans and retirement savings have been devastated, and negotiations for many committees have hit a brick wall as employers pull back on benefits and impose concessionary demands.
“To Canada’s great discredit – especially given the $57 billion in surplus contributions workers have made to the EI program over many years – their government is letting them down. The EI program has failed when it was needed most. Thousands upon thousands of men and women, thrown out of work by forces beyond their control, have been left to fend for themselves, says Clancy.”
It’s certainly not the same bright outlook Canadian workers have enjoyed over the past few Labour Days. But when times are tight, it allows us to see very clearly the value of what we’ve been working for over the years.
For Clancy it’s also the time to “reflect on the victims of this powerful recession and to speak out for the changes that our government must make if we are to build a better world for ourselves and our families – based on Canada’s fundamental values.”
Enjoy your Labour Day long weekend.
Click here to read James Clancy’s full commentary.