May Day Was Busy Day
May Day, May 1, has never been as big an event in Canada as it is in some areas of the world, but every year, more and more attention is being paid to it in Manitoba. One of the events during the 2007 celebrations of May Day was a Labour Fair organized by the MFL on the main floor of the Union Centre, 275 Broadway.
Throughout the day, there were numerous displays about Manitoba unions and friends of labour - about Manitoba's labour history - and about the Union of Retirees. The event kicked off with coffee and donuts in the early morning - and then there was a hot dog barbecue held on the top floor of the parking lot at the union centre over the noon hour. MFL staff and other labour leaders did the cooking and serving. Pete Walker, the MFL's Health and Safety Representative, is seen cooking the 'dogs' in the above photo.
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May Day activities in Winnipeg concluded with a march from City Hall to the University of Winnipeg. Manitoba Federation of Labour President Darlene Dziewit spoke to the participants at City Hall to kick off the march. She began with an overview of what May Day means.
"May Day is a day when workers the world over unite to recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by working people. It is a day that is sometimes a celebration. It is, at other times, a day of mourning. It can be a day to remember, and it can be a day to protest the wrongs committed against workers. It can be all of these things. But always, it is a day for us to gather, to come together, to share in our day and in our union heritage.
"Here in Winnipeg we are gathered to bring attention to our theme, which is 'Make Poverty History – A Living Wage in Winnipeg'. It should come as no surprise to anyone that minimum wage earners are the most disadvantaged in our society. They are women, they are young people, they are new Canadians, they are disabled and they are visible minorities. They and their children are also the people who are most at risk to fall into poverty. We can do no less than to speak for a living wage for those who have no voice.
"In Manitoba our minimum wage is $8 per hour, an amount we share with B.C. and Ontario. What is sad is that, with the exception of Yukon, Nunavut and the NWT, we are at the top of the minimum wage heap in Canada. Alberta, that great bastion of business and with an unprecedented labour shortage is equal to the lowest minimum wage provinces at $7.
"What we need in this country is a National minimum wage strategy. Instead, what we got was a Federal Liberal government that ended the Federal minimum wage altogether. And we have the Harper Conservatives who are damn happy with this unfortunate event. I guess it is one less anti-worker thing they need to do.
"I want to conclude my remarks tonight by asking you to push for a living wage for all Canadians. We can do this by having the Federal government lead the way. That is where the pressure can be most effective. Provinces that are progressive will follow the Feds lead, and the rest will be dragged kicking and screaming into enacting good social policy, which is what a living wage most certainly is."
After Darlene's speech, the marchers walked to the University of Winnipeg where they heard from Marianne Cerilli, long-time NDP MLA for Radisson. Entertainment included the Winnipeg Labour Choir, Pipi Skid, Pat Krawec and Tara. There was also be a presentation of the Bruce MacKay Solidarity Award to a community activist.
If you weren't part of May Day activities this year, be sure to participate next year! It's one way to show your pride in being a union member.