May Day is recognized around the world. It traces its origins to the mid 1880s when a movement of workers protested to get an eight-hour workday. At that time, most people worked between 10 to 12 hours a day, six days a week. This movement witnessed many sacrifices; some labour activists even lost their lives as a result, in order to obtain justice for all workers.
“On International Workers’ Day this year, lets renew our commitment to push for positive change that will benefit all workers,” says Patrick Colford, President of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour, “With this year being an election year, we need to make sure that our elected representatives are accountable for improving fairness and making sure that economic prosperity benefits everyone.” The New Brunswick Federation of Labour is proud to be one of the organizations that has signed onto Building a more equal society: A progressive election platform for New Brunswick in 2018. It focusses on three priorities: 1) making sure no one is left out; 2) improving public services, and 3) increasing progressive sources of revenue from individuals and corporations. Patrick Colford concludes by saying: “The New Brunswick Federation of Labour will be looking for political party’s platforms to include commitments for improving labour laws so that all workers are entitled to paid sick leave, investing in public services to protect society’s most vulnerable citizens and adopting pay equity legislation that covers the private sector.”
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The NBFL is the central voice of organized labour in the province. We represent over 35,000 workers from every sector of the economy and from every community in the province.
For more information, please contact Patrick Colford, President NBFL (506) 857-9153 / (506) 381-8969 (cell)