Labour Council To Host Free Labour Day Barbecue Open To All
Annual Labour Day Event returns and is FREE for anyone to attend.
For three years the Moose Jaw and District Labour Council has been unable to hold their annual Labour Day celebration for the contributions of workers past and present but that is about to change tomorrow.
From 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM tomorrow, Labour Day Monday - September 5th, the Moose Jaw and District Labour Council will once again be hosting their annual FREE barbecue at the Moose Jaw Union Centre 1402 Caribou Street West.
“The event is open to everyone,” Stacey Landin president of the Moose Jaw and District Labour Council said whether you are a worker, business owner, retired or unemployed. “Everybody is welcome.”
The annual FREE Labour Day barbecue will be held at the Moose Jaw Union Centre located at 1402 Caribou Street West on September 5th from 11:30 am to 2 pm - MJ Independent file photo
“It’s a way to commemorate workers both past and present,” Landin said.
“It’s important to recognize what unions have done for workers even of you are not working in an organized environment,” she said about the reason to hold the annual celebration/commemoration.
Landin said this year, the first to be held due to the COVID - 19 restrictions, will not be featuring entertainment as the organizers want to be extra cautious with COVID - 19 still in the community.
“We wanted to be extra cautious and get a feel for having people there (for the annual event),” she said, adding “hopefully it will be in full swing next year.”
Although there will not be entertainment Landin said there will be plenty of food for everyone who attends.
“We’re unsure how many will attend but we are ready for a big crowd.”
The menu this year will consists of hamburgers and hot dogs along with water and iced tea. Coffee has been taken off of the menu for this year’s event because of the heat with cold drinks offered instead.
Asked about the forecast of hot temperatures Landin said as far as hydration goes there will be no limit on the amount of cold ice tea and water as organizers want to ensure everyone attending has a great time.
Landin reminded people attending to wear sunscreen, a hat and dress appropriately for the weather.
Environment Canada’s hourly forecast for the event is 27C at the start and 32C about the time the event ends.
Asked for some of the reasons why Labour Day and organized labour are important to everyone she said there are numerous things the union movement has achieved for all workers.
An example she gave was what most see as a standardized 40 hour work week but it was something that organized labour achieved in the past.
“It was organized labour that gave us the 40 hour work week,” she said, adding there are numerous other contributions that may not have been popular in the past but are welcomed today by workers and employers alike.
Landin said she would like people to know that during the three year hiatus the event had due to the COVID - 19 pandemic that contributions were made instead to groups like the Moose Jaw and District Food Bank to still be able help out others.
The event is sponsored by local unions as well as two non-governmental organizations who have generously donated to make this year’s event a reality, she said.