On the first Monday of September each year, Canadians gather to celebrate Labour Day. While today it’s often seen as the last long weekend of summer, its roots run much deeper. Labour Day is a time to honour the struggles and sacrifices of working people who fought to secure rights, protections, and dignity in the workplace.
Labour Day became a national holiday in 1894 after labour leaders pushed on government to formally recognize the contributions of working people. That September, Winnipeg hosted Canada’s first-ever Labour Day parade, stretching five kilometres through the city. The tradition spread across the country, becoming a day to affirm the dignity of workers and the importance of solidarity.
In the early 1900s, most workers endured grueling conditions: 60 to 70-hour work weeks, low pay, and dangerous workplaces. Unions were not just discouraged – they were declared illegal. Organizing a union could mean harassment, blacklisting, or even arrest. Yet workers persevered, demanding shorter hours, safer conditions, and fair wages.
In Manitoba, one of the defining moments of labour history came with the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919. For six weeks, more than 30,000 workers walked off the job, uniting across trades and industries to demand better wages and collective bargaining rights. Though the strike ended in arrests and violence, its impact was lasting and laid the foundation for many of the labour protections Canadians benefit from today.
Thanks to generations of labour activists, workers now have access to paid holidays, safer workplaces, medical care, unemployment insurance, fairer hours, and union recognition. These rights were not simply given – they were won.
For health-care professionals in Manitoba, the labour movement has delivered meaningful victories:
- Formal recognition of allied health professions as critical to patient care.
- Collective bargaining rights that give health-care professionals a seat at the table.
- Gains in wages, benefits, and protections that make health care a more sustainable career.
Did you know: MAHCP was the first union to secure maternity leave top-up for its members?
These achievements remind us that progress is only possible when workers stand together.
This Labour Day, as we enjoy time with family and friends, let’s remember the legacy of struggle and solidarity that brought us here. The fight for fairness in the workplace is ongoing, and it is our duty to carry it forward.
In solidarity – Happy Labour Day!