Labour Day barbecue celebrates workers rights in Saskatoon

It’s Labour Day across Canada.

A day to kick back and relax with family and friends, but also celebrate workers rights.

The Saskatoon and District Labour Council (SDLC) hosted a free barbeque in Victoria Park Monday afternoon, in which 3000 people turned out.

Several topics surrounding labour issues were brought up like pay equity.

“I don’t know why we have to fight for this human right,” said Saskatoon West Member of Parliment and labour critic for the New Democratic Party, Sheri Benson.

In Quebec and Ontario pay equity is actually legislated by law.

Canada also has one of the lowest amounts of vacation days in the world and Benson thinks we need to talk about more days off.

“When you look at the numbers around mental health problems and the productivity issue, I think we should kick start the conversation,” she said.

In France, they have 30 paid days off, most of Canada has 10 days of mandatory vacation, but here in Saskatchewan, we have 15.

President of the SDLC Kelly Harrington feels we have bigger fish to fry before we kick start the conversation of more time off.

“Let’s improve the working conditions in the workplace first,” she said.

“Let’s make sure workers go home safe and let’s make sure workers can afford to pay rent and buy groceries.”

Another labour related discussion brought up was moving the work week from five days to four.

“The work days have been getting longer,” Benson said.

“Families have been getting stressed trying to balance work and play, so I think we need to have a general conversation about more time off.”

Music is lively at the free #LaborDay bbq for #yxe labour council @CKOMNews pic.twitter.com/kd0y55lweb

— JT Marshall (@jtmarshallCKOM) September 5, 2016

Music to Judy White’s ears.

“I think it would be so nice to get a three day weekend,” she said.

But Ehren Klane is worried about the part-time workers if that happened.

“A five day work week is necessary to alleviate them (part-timer’s),” he said.

“It would be really tough on the construction industry because you need that extra time to get things done.”

It’s the 18th year the SDLC has hosted the barbeque.

The line is backed up for the #yxe labour council free bbq, people here pushing how much unions have done #LabourDay pic.twitter.com/97P595Jxgc

— JT Marshall (@jtmarshallCKOM) September 5, 2016