Minimum wage, NAFTA renegotiation, workplace equity hot topics at Labour Day parade

Colourful banners, flags and floats filled Queen Street on Monday as workers and union memberscame out for Toronto'sannual Labour Day parade.

Many who marched say they're celebrating the strides they've seen in recent months.

"Today is a day to celebrate the collective power we're building. Look at the successes that working people are actually beginning to achieve," said Fred Hahn, president of CUPE Ontario.

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"It took two years of organizing from people on the ground, but we are now debating raising the minimum wage so people who work full-time hours don't have to live in poverty," the labour activist told CBC Toronto.

Hahn was referring to a proposal earlier this year by Premier Kathleen Wynne's Liberal government to raisethe province's minimum wage to $15 by 2019 as part of a wider package of labour reforms. Hahn also spokepositively about the current effort to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) undertaken by Canada, Mexico and the United States, and Canada's push to put the concerns of the labour movement front-and-centre in the talks.

"We're in the midst of negotiating a NAFTA re-negotiationwhere we actually have labour at the table talking about making sure trade deals aren't just about corporations," he added.

The theme of this year's parade:"Step Up and Speak Out."

Hahn says this speaks to the unions' "determination to challenge racism in our society as we see it.

"This is about good wages yes, good fair deals yes, but it's also about standing up against racism and discrimination in the workplace."

But Maryellen McIlmoyle, president of UNIFOR Local 673, says there is still a lot of work that needs to be done.

'Always an uphill batlle'

"Pay equity is still a challenge, women in the workforce, women in leadership; it's always an uphill battle," she said.

NDP MPP Jagmeet Singh, who represents Bramalea-Gore-Malton in Peel Region,told CBC Toronto that Labour Dayisalso a time to acknowledge the sacrifices and hard work of labour activists over the decades.

"The rights we have in the workplace, our work week, having weekends off, the workplace safety we have a lot of this is due to the labour movement," said Singh, who is running for the leadership of the federalNew Democrats.

Mayor John Toryalso made an appearance. Hesays he is confident about the state of labour in the city.

"You don't see a lot of disputes because I think we've figured out it's a partnership between working men and women, businesses and government to get things done," Tory said.

• The state of labour on Labour Day

He believes the provincial government's proposedhikeof theminimum hourly wagewill give Torontonians "a fairer wage to live in a very expensive city."

"I hope the government will be true to its word and take a look at the impact on small businesses. Businesses have to survive as well, but on balance i think they will figure that out," the mayor said.