Labour Day 2025: Celebrating the strength of Canadian Workers

Toronto – August 28, 2025 – Labour Day is a time to celebrate the achievements of workers across Canada and to recognize the vital role they play in building strong communities and a resilient economy. From food processing and meat-packing plants to retail grocery stores, the hospitality sector, distribution warehouses, and more, UFCW Canada members are at the heart of industries that keep the country fed, housed, and cared for.

This year, as Canada continues to navigate the pressures of an ongoing trade war, workers are on the frontlines defending good jobs and supporting economic stability by standing together in their workplaces and communities. They are supporting one another through acts of solidarity—whether it’s showing up and supporting picket lines from coast to coast, standing shoulder to shoulder in campaigns that push for stronger labour protections, or choosing to buy Canadian- and union-made goods that sustain good jobs at home. UFCW members are proving that when workers unite—at the bargaining table, on the shop floor, and in the streets—they safeguard fair wages, job security, and decent working conditions.

“Labour Day is a reminder that every worker’s contribution matters, and that together, we can overcome the challenges ahead,” says UFCW Canada National President Shawn Haggerty. “Challenges such as aggressive corporate tactics, lockouts, and legislative rollbacks remain a reality in many sectors, which is why this day highlights the importance of solidarity—the collective strength of workers acting together—to win fairness, strengthen communities, and ensure that no worker is left behind. By standing united, we can continue to build workplaces that are safe, fair, and respectful for all workers, today and into the future.”

UFCW Canada’s current campaigns reflect the values at the heart of Labour Day. We are demanding Affordability for All by tackling Canada’s affordability crisis, fighting for Paid Sick Days Now!, and calling for stronger protections through our Violence is Not Part of the Job campaign to end workplace violence and ensure respect for frontline workers. We continue to advocate to Make Truth and Reconciliation Day a paid day of recognition and remembrance, and to secure permanent residency pathways for migrant food workers whose labour sustains our food system.

These struggles are a direct expression of solidarity—the belief that when workers stand together, they can win fairness, dignity, and security. They also connect Labour Day to May Day, another important occasion that unites workers around the world in the fight for justice and equality.

Show your union pride this Labour Day and take part in one of the many events happening across the country—because solidarity isn’t just a word; it’s the foundation of a stronger, fairer Canada.