New Brunswick Federation of Labour’s statement for International Worker’s Day

Moncton – Michel Boudreau, President of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour (NBFL), is very pleased to mark May 1st, the International Worker’s Day.

“I am very grateful for the past and the present sacrifices that the labour movement has made to advance workers rights. Past fights had the same ultimate goal as present fights, namely, social and economic justice for all which translates into better labour laws for all workers,” says the NBFL President.

May Day 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 in order to obtain justice for all workers.

“The labour movement must continue its quest to improve legislation and working conditions for all New Brunswick workers. There remains a lot of work to be done. For example, more work needs to be done to improve health and safety conditions in the workplace. The provincial and federal governments must adopt pay equity legislation for the private sector to stop wage discrimination. Retirement security for all workers must be improved so workers do not retire to a life in poverty,” says Boudreau.