On behalf of our executive board, executive council, and our MoveUP staff, we wish all our members and their families a safe and happy Labour Day.
Labour Day is more than a holiday. It is an opportunity for us to recognize and honour working people, highlighting not only our historic and ongoing contributions to our communities and our economy but our efforts to build a better world where workers are treated with respect.
Celebrating unions, the labour movement, and our achievements
Labour Day is, most importantly, about celebrating the accomplishments and achievements of unions. It is an opportunity to reflect on the historic victories that workers, and our labour movement, have won for us.
From the eight-hour workday, weekends, to workplace safety regulations, and pregnancy and parental leave, none of these, and more, would have been possible without unions and labour activists fighting to secure these rights for all working people.
In more recent years, union activists and the labour movement have been able to push the government to increase the minimum wage, establish paid sick leave, establish leave for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, enact anti-scab legislation, establish the start of a universal pharmacare and dental care program, and make it easier for workers to join a union where they can enjoy better wages, benefits and overall working conditions.
Labour Day means celebrating with workers everywhere, which is why labour councils across Canada host community events for workers, union and non-union, to come together and gather.
We encourage you to take part in a Labour Day hosted by your local labor council on Monday, September 1. You can find a list of events happening here.
MoveUP leaders representing our local labour councils
If you are in the Lower Mainland or Fraser Valley of BC, we invite you to come join our MoveUP leaders who will be representing their local labour councils at one of the two events listed below.
The Vancouver & District Labour Council (VDLC) and New Westminster & District Labour Council (NWDLC) will co-host the Metro Vancouver Labour Day Celebration on September 1 at Edmonds Park (7433 Humphries Ave., Burnaby) from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
MoveUP Vice-President Christy Slusarenko is the president of the NWDLC and MoveUP union representative Stephen von Sychowski (currently on leave) is president of the VDLC. MoveUP will also have a presence at the event so make sure you come find us to say hi!
The Fraser Valley Labour Council (FVLC) will host Labour Day at Mill Lake Park on September 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. MoveUP Vice-President Rysa Kronebusch is the president of the FVLC.
Labour Day After Hours
After all the community-oriented Labour Day events hosted by labour councils have concluded, MoveUP invites members and their direct families to attend Labour Day After Hours.
Hosted at the USW 2009 hall in Langley (9292 200 St.), this event will be held from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will be a throwback to Labour Day events of the past celebrating union workers and working-class solidarity.
The event is intended for union members and their direct families, and will include speakers talking about our union histories, our successes, and upcoming challenges, as well as feature live music, trivia, prizes and contests, and more.
Tickets are $5 with proceeds going to charity. You are also encouraged to wear your union apparel proudly!
Click here or on the image below to purchase tickets.
In solidarity,
Annette Toth, President
Brenda Chu, Secretary-Treasurer
Rysa Kronebusch, Vice-President, Utilities
Dimitri Ossinsky, Vice-President, ICBC
Christy Slusarenko, Vice-President, Combined Units
