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Happy Labour Day, 2021
Happy Labour Day!
Another Labour Day amidst a global pandemic, unable to celebrate in our normal fashion, BUT we will CELEBRATE! Looking back over the past 18 months, reflecting on sacrifices and accomplishment’s that were made by so many workers taking care of us when we were ill/affected by the virus, ensuring our safety, making sure food was available and keeping society functioning shows not only dedication to others but also proves that we, workers, will be responsible for the recovery of the economy. The Grey Bruce Labour Council has absolute admiration for all workers, but particularly recognizes the effort of the essential and frontline workers who kept working tirelessly throughout the pandemic and continue to do so today.
All workers are celebrated on Labour Day, today we celebrate not only our accomplishments of the past 18 months but all of those in history. Many rights we enjoy today were fought for and won, minimum wages, overtime pay, workplace safety standards, maternity and parental leave, vacation pay, protection from discrimination and harassment are just a few examples of what labour can do. We will do it again, together, as we recover from COVID-19, we will fight for as strong recovery plan that includes living wages, benefits like paid sick leave and pensions for all workers, universal, affordable child care, and we will fight to end decades long inequalities that has long plagued marginalized workers, particularly women of colour, workers with disabilities, and many others. We will fight for the end of injustice for Indigenous, Muslim and all racialized communities, together we will lead the way and there is no doubt we will prevail.
The pre-pandemic world wasn’t working for everyone, today we commit together that we will lead the recovery and we will lead the way to a better future for all. On this Labour Day amidst a global pandemic and a world full of injustice, I urge you to take the time today, to not only reflect and celebrate the accomplishments of the past and those of today, but to commit to helping ensure a better future for all.
Happy Labour Day!
Kevin Smith, President
Grey Bruce Labour Council
2021 Labour Day, Grey Bruce Labour Council, Immediate Release
August 26, 2021-For Immediate Release
Grey Bruce Labour Council on Labour Day
Another Labour Day under the dark cloud of COVID-19 does not mean that Labour Day is not as meaningful as every Labour Day preceding it. Due to the sacrifice of frontline and essential workers, Labour Day under such circumstances is in all likelihood more relevant than most past Labour Days. Labour Council President Kevin Smith reminds us all “that keeping us fed, keeping the lights on, teaching our children, tending to the sick and injured and many more key services were not delivered by CEO’s or the one percenters during the pandemic, but by the very people that were taken for granted until the global pandemic arrived.”
Muted by the pandemic, the Labour Council is planning a COVID compliant gathering at the Gazebo – Queens Park Bandstand (down from the library) in Owen Sound. The gathering will be on the September 5th (Sunday) from 2:30-4:00PM. A few speakers will be present, and it is hoped that this will keep us committed more than ever to a bigger and better celebration in 2022 and beyond. Foodbank donations will be welcomed.
The Grey Bruce Labour Council is grateful to the communities that happily show their support for Labour Day, Brockton, Owen Sound and Arran-Elderslie by flying the “Celebrating Labour” flag. The Labour Council also asked other communities to fly the flag, but sadly they declined or simply ignored the opportunity to demonstrate support for workers in their communities.
“Labour Day is a day of celebration and contrary to vast numbers of misconceptions it is a day to celebrate the contribution of all workers” says Labour Council VP for Grey, Chris Stephen.
“The Labour Council anxiously looks to 2022 with high hopes of parades and picnics. Our partners, the Unifor retirees, and all labour council affiliates, friends and allies look forward to our Port Elgin parade and Unifor Family Education Centre celebratory lunch and prize draws” say Labour Council VP for Bruce, Dave Trumble.
It is hoped that even with our much quieter Labour Day gathering on Sunday the 5th that the affiliates, friends and allies of Labour will drop by the gazebo.
O’TOOLE’S RHETORIC CANNOT HIDE HIS RECORD OF HURTING WORKERS
Le français suit Link to statement on website |
Labour Day 2021
Greetings Sisters and Brothers,
Once again, this year as we approach Labour Day, we find ourselves at the mercy of the global pandemic. Variants continue to force us to show an abundance of care a caution in how we celebrate and meet. The Grey Bruce Labour Council will not let Labour Day be a casualty of the pandemic in 2021 but ensuring the health and safety of all people remains the highest of priorities.
Approaching one-hundred and fifty years of celebrating labour in Canada, the celebration of working people is a tradition with no less a rich history in Grey and Bruce Counties. Inheriting the great privilege of sustaining Labour Day in our region, the Grey Bruce Labour Council has found friends and allies across a great spectrum of people, affiliates and organizations. The pandemic with all its dangers will limit our celebrations, but it is this very pandemic that has demonstrated that it is workers that have ensured our very survival and provided for us the ability to sustain our public services. The recovery from the pandemic will also show us that recovery will only be successful if workers lead the recovery.
No full recovery will be possible without workers and the input of workers. No recovery will be possible without vigorous and fully funded public healthcare, education and the full mosaic of public services.
In making sure that Labour’s voice is clear the Grey Bruce Labour Council will be holding a COVID compliant gathering at the Gazebo – Queens Park Bandstand (down from the library) in Owen Sound. The gathering will be on the September 5th (Sunday) from 2:30-4:00PM. A few speakers will be present, and it is hoped that this will keep us committed more than ever to a bigger and better celebration in 2022 and beyond.
Labour Day Celebrations
Sunday September 5th, 2021
2:30 -4:00pm
Queens Park Bandstand (848 1st Ave W, Owen Sound)
Looking forward to seeing you!
In solidarity,
Kevin
Kevin Smith, President
Grey Bruce Labour Council
Feeding Families
Feeding Families - Restaurant Relief continues.
Thanks to Grey Bruce Labour Council for purchasing 40 turkey dinners from Kettles Back Home Cookin' which were then delivered to Owen Sound Hunger and Relief Effort
This is a win/win for the restaurants and our community!
#FeedingFamiliesRestaurantRelief
https://www.facebook.com/136266479728351/posts/4377301125624844/?d=n
Workers Deserve Input
Kincardine Pride Disappointed With MP Ben Lobb
Kincardine Pride Disappointed in MP Ben Lobb’s Vote on Conversion Therapy
Kincardine, ON | Kincardine Pride Inc. is disappointed and disheartened to discover Huron Bruce Member of Parliament (MP) Ben Lobb voted against Bill C-6, a bill to amend the Criminal Code to protect LGBTQ2+[1] youth from undergoing conversion therapy.
On June 22, 2021, the Canadian House of Commons voted on the third reading of Bill C-6, where it passed and is now on its way to be voted in the Senate. Sixty-three conservative MPs voted against Bill C-6 – including MP Lobb.
“Conversion therapy is an unscientific, unethical and harmful practice that puts our youth in danger and is a form of torture for LGBTQ2+ people,” says Fort Papalia (he/him), President of Kincardine Pride Inc., “seeing that a local politician does not support the ban of conversion therapy is troubling for our youth and our entire LGBT2Q+ community.”
Conversion therapy is any treatment, including individual talk therapy, behavioural or aversion therapy, group therapy treatments, medical or drug-induced treatments, which attempt to change, suppress or deny someone’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Simply put, it is abuse.
“More than 50% of rural LGBTQ2+ individuals believe conservative values and beliefs are the largest barriers to the rural LGBTQ2+ community,” says AJ Adams (he/him), a rural LGBTQ2+ advocate/educator and advisor of Kincardine Pride. “This action by MP Lobb is despicable and adds to the narrative that conservatives and rural communities are anti-LGBTQ2+. This is a narrative that we know isn’t true and needs to change” adds Adams.
Bill C-6 is an amendment to the Criminal Code; it proposes five criminal offences related to conversion therapy. If the bill passes, it will be illegal to force a minor to undergo conversion therapy; force a person to undergo conversion therapy against their will; profit off of providing conversion therapy; advertise conversion therapy; and take a minor out of Canada to undergo conversion therapy abroad.
Being LGBTQ2+ is not something that can be “cured” as there is nothing wrong with being LGBTQ2+ . Huron Bruce LGBTQ2+ youth troubled by the news of their MP’s actions can find support through LGBT Youth Line, Kids Help Phone and WES for Youth Online.
You can learn more about conversion therapy in Canada at noconversioncanada.com
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For more information please contact:
Fort Papalia (he/him) AJ Adams (he/him)
President of Kincardine Pride Inc. Rural LGBTQ2+ Advocate & Educator
[email protected] [email protected]
[1] LGBTQ2+ is an acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and two-spirit.
We Need #SafeSeptember
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