Many roadways in Hamilton’s downtown closed Monday for the city’s Labour Day parade.
Across North America, the Labour movement holds parades and demonstrations to celebrate their efforts to fight for better wages, collective bargaining rights, and safer working conditions.
In Hamilton, healthcare workers, educators, first responders, tradespeople, and other professionals, to name a few, all marched in unison — a powerful display of solidarity that has remained unchanged over the years.
“We have to keep the workers’ rights upfront,” Rose Allain, an education worker said.
“We have to make sure that the workers are supported, that the workers are protected, because we union span every industry across the country — so without those support, people would be left vulnerable.”
Despite the diversity of careers represented at Monday’s march, they all share a common goal: to secure better wages and improved working conditions for all.
For the unions participating in Monday’s march, the fight extends beyond their members to the communities they call home.
Anthony Marco, the president of the Hamilton and District Labour Council, says homelessness is a big issue that holds community members back from being able to work.
“You don’t have a mailing address … you don’t have a job,” Marco said.