Every May 1st, International Workers’ Day marks the fight for fair labour conditions rooted in justice, equity, and democracy.
The date was chosen to commemorate the Haymarket Massacre of 1886 in Chicago, where police opened fire on workers striking for an eight-hour workday. This demand remains symbolic of the growing labour movement in North America and Europe in the late 19th century.
“In a time when some employers are seeking to break up unions, claiming we are no longer relevant, and we see a loss of permanent, unionized jobs in favour of precarious contract work, we need to stand in solidarity with each other. Workers’ rights are human rights,” Annick Forest, CMG National President, states. “In the media industry today, we’re still seeing ongoing racism and sexism and disparity in pay for female media workers. The rapid developments in AI can contribute to misinformation and disinformation and threatens jobs through automation if we don’t stand up for our rights as people and workers.”
CMG stands in solidarity with workers around the world as we acknowledge that the struggle for dignity at work is far from over. From the newsroom to the bargaining table, we must continue to organize, speak out, and support one another.
Curious about the impact of unions on life as we know it? Learn more about the contribution of the Toronto Typographical Union’s strike in Toronto in 1872.
1872: The fight for a shorter workweek | Canadian Labour Congress