The world can feel like a scary place right now. Climate disasters, ongoing wars and economic uncertainty leave people with a sense that things are spinning out of our control.

There is an urge to bury our heads in the sand and disconnect. Folks can feel powerless, disheartened and overwhelmed. At this point, disengaging feels like a survival strategy in the unrelenting weight of the world.

That’s where you, members of a union, can show up to make a difference.

Individual action can create a community of change. By working together, we can improve the lives of those around us.

That doesn’t have to mean leading parades or devoting all your spare time to volunteer with the union.

It means making small changes. Chose union when you purchase things. Amplify union voices on social media. Support other workers in your local area. Simply, be the bright spot in someone else’s gloomy day.

This year’s Toronto Labour Day Parade theme is: Defending Workers Everywhere. I will be there marching with members of our union in solidarity with the other unions representing the workers that keep our world running.

I believe people want a safe, stable and secure workplace. They want the ability to build a life that has space for their own interests and desires, as opposed to only getting by or even worse, falling behind.

Solidarity is reduced to a slogan if it is only shouted by a few. Solidarity as a collective action is an unstoppable force.

Here at the Canadian Media Guild, we fight for our union family. The gains we make in our workplaces help all of those around us. That fight also helps our non-unionized neighbours and communities.

I hope to see you at union-led job actions, office meetings and on educational video calls. I hope to see you take an active role in supporting your bargaining committees and engaging with local labour movement issues.

But more importantly, I hope to see you being there for your colleagues when they are struggling. To me, that action is the foundation of union work. That’s how we stand together to defend workers everywhere.

In solidarity,
Jane Robertson
President, Canadian Media Guild