Lessons from the birth of Labour Day

The fact that Labour Day originated in Toronto has been lost over time. Indeed, the holiday's genesis stems from a bitter labour dispute at this very newspaper. It's a story that provides insights into the delicate balance between labour and employers in Canada through the decades. In 1872, a group of Toronto printers went on strike, fighting for a nine-hour work day. (The standard work day was 10 to 12 hours at the time.) The workers' demand to reduce their hours had been refused by print shop owners, and in particular, George Brown, a respected father of Confederation and founder of The Globe, a predecessor to The Globe and Mail. Ten thousand people marched in support of the workers to Queen's Park. After, Brown launched legal action for 'conspiracy' and, given that union activity was a criminal act at the time, 24 members of the strike committee were jailed. Brown's fierce editorials in The Globe, claiming that employees ruled their bosses with a 'rod of iron' and that employees are healthier and happier without 'idle time,' angered those Ontario workers. Many of the printers lost their jobs, but the incident led then prime minister Sir John A. Macdonald, a rival of Brown's who was keen to gain worker support, to legalize union activities. In the years that followed, unions across North America pushed for shorter work days, and the eight-hour day eventually became standard. Opinion: Canada needs stronger unions, not more labour bashing from governments Annual parades held to show support for the strikes and the 'Nine-Hour Movement' spread across the country, and were eventually formalized as the Labour Day holiday in 1894. There's some dispute around the origins of America's Labor Day, but some historians believe U.S. labour leader Peter J. McGuire, inspired after visiting a Toronto labour gathering, organized the first American Labor Day parade in 1882. It also became a U.S. federal holiday in 1894. Macdonald's legalization of unions helped to balance the power of employers and employees. Unions have played an important role in reducing work hours, boosting wages and benefits, and improving safety. By establishing norms, these efforts have also benefited workers who are not unionized. At times, however, the relationship between organized labour and employer interests has fallen out of balance. A 2015 Supreme Court ruling that declared the right to strike is fundamental and protected by the Constitution tipped the scales in labour's favour. As a result, governments have limited ability to legislate workers back to the job. Fifteen months into his tenure as Prime Minister, Carney is drawing the ire of union heads A 2024 law on replacement workers, brought forward by Justin Trudeau's Liberals with the support of the NDP, created an even bigger imbalance by limiting employers' options during labour disputes. The law bans temporary replacement workers during a strike or lockout in federally regulated sectors. Research shows that jurisdictions with bans on replacement workers have more frequent strikes that last longer, prolonging the economic harm. At the provincial level, the 2022 attempt from Doug Ford's Ontario government to use the notwithstanding clause to impose a contract on education support workers and ban their right to strike went too far. The pushback from other unions, who saw the right to strike threatened, caused Mr. Ford to roll back his plan. That didn't stop the Alberta government from invoking the notwithstanding clause last year in legislation regarding striking teachers. Canada has seen an upsurge in labour disruptions, with the loss of 4.3 million person-days last year, a record high. Many have caused widespread disruption in critical industries such as aviation, railways and ports. These types of disruptions could make it harder for the government to achieve its aim of boosting the economy through large infrastructure projects. In response, the federal government has created a new tripartite advisory council made up of union, business and government leaders. Rather than create another layer of bureaucracy, the government should repeal the 2024 replacement-worker law. Canada has come a long way since the labour strife of George Brown's era. (A dispute with a worker actually lead to his untimely death, after a disgruntled former staffer shot him in 1880 and the wound became infected.) Collective bargaining and unions are essential in Canada, and their positive contributions ensure that workers have meaningful participation in workplace decisions. Like Sir John A. Macdonald, today's policymakers need to ensure that the interests of labour and employers are kept in balance.