Labour Day

Most countries in the world honour workers annually.  International Workers’ Day occurs on May 1^st of each year in many places.  In Canada, we celebrate what we call Labour Day on the second Monday of each September.

In April 1872 a labour demonstration was held in Toronto to support striking printers.  This led to the enactment of the Trade Union Act which gave legality to unions.  Following that, different cities in Canada began holding picnics and parades as celebrations of workers and their work.  Finally, in 1894 Labour Day (French: Fete du Travail) was given royal assent as a statutory public holiday.

A lot has changed since the original labour union movement that advocated for the concept of eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation and eight hours for rest.

Our culture, economic system and demands by customers have increased business hours to include weekends and evenings.  This means that many people now do shiftwork.

Those who are in emergency services including hospitals, fire departments and policing work different schedules that may change based on need and staffing demands.

Many individuals in the oil patch or trucking industries might be away from home for days or even weeks at a time while military deployments might actually last for months.

Some people work in part-time or casual positions.  Retirees often choose to “double-dip”, returning to their career on a contract basis or supplementing their pensions through a position with a new employer.

All of us are workers in the domestic setting.  We cook meals, do laundry, plant gardens, care for children and the elderly.  Many volunteer on a pro-bono basis.

People who are in private practice or own their business often work more than the expected 40 hours a week.

Students from kindergarten to post-graduate invest their time and effort into education plans that will help to establish a career at a later date.

The online Oxford Dictionary defines work as:  “activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result”.  If we use this definition, then we can conclude that almost all Canadians are “workers”.  We all do things to improve our lives and our country.

This year, please remember the importance of work and the ways that all of us are deserving of the statutory holiday that is held in our honour.

Happy Labour Day, everyone!