LABOUR DAY SEPTEMBER 7TH Canadian Origins of Labour Day The Canadian labour movement can justly claim the title of originator of Labour Day. Peter I. McGuire, one of the founders of the American Federation of Labour has traditionally been known as the "Father of Labour Day." Historical evidence indicates that McGuire obtained his idea for the establishment of an annual demonstration and public holiday from Canadian trade unionists. Joblessness not matched by drop in poverty Edmonton - More Albertans are working than ever before, but not everyone is cashing in on the economic boom, Alex Grimaldi, president of the Edmonton and District Labour Council, said Monday. "The drop in the unemployment rate has not been matched by a drop in the number of people living in poverty," Grimaldi said at the council's ninth annual Labour Day Barbecue for the Unemployed. LABOUR DAY MESSAGE, 1998 CHALLENGING THE CORPORATE ELITE AND CHALLENGING OURSELVES - Buzz Hargrove, President, CAW Workers making wage inroads: labour boss It's the best of times and the worst of times for wage slaves in Alberta, says Alberta's labour leader. In her annual Labour Day weekend message, Alberta Federation of Labour president Audrey Cormack said there's been significant progress in the lot of waged workers in the province over the past year. Labor Day musings The activity of the workers generates national wealth By Bishop Fred Henry of Calgary from the Calgary Sun.Bishop Fred Henry's Labour Day Message From Western Catholic Reporter Bishop Henry defended striking Calgary Catholic Custodial Workers against Contracting Out earlier this year. Labour Day Message from BC Federation of Labour Labour is on comeback trail, say leaders, experts It has grappled with the new global economy, rampant plant layoffs and the coming of what some call the "next working class": low-paid, part-time, multi-job employees. But as another Labour Day approaches, Canada's union movement is boasting it is once again a force to be reckoned with. Unions fighting for their members have hobbled the country's biggest airline and thrown a wrench into Ontario's education overhaul. They have also begun organizing workers long neglected by the movement: young, minimum-wage employees of fast-food outlets and discount stores. Stats Canada issues Labour Force Survey during the first half of 1998, about 3.6 million or 30.7% of paid workers belonged to a union. An additional 294,000 employees, or about 2.6% of the total, were covered by a collective agreement. LABOR DAY IN THE USA Labor movement, religions to mark holiday together 1998 Labor Day Message By UAW President Lets Make Every Day Labor Day What If We Didn't Need Labor Day?-By Norman Solomon- LaborNet Commentary Norman Solomon is co-author of "Wizards of Media Oz: Behind the Curtain of Mainstream News" and author of "The Trouble With Dilbert: How Corporate Culture Gets the Last Laugh." Message by AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney on Labor Day, 1998 Union growth hampered by corporate intimidation, Sweeney says ACTION: Big Labor Day Rally in Santa Fe, New Mexico LABOR DAY: Protest Lack of Labor Programming on PBS PROFITS BEFORE PEOPLE: AMERICANS ANGRY AT CORPORATE EXCESS WANT GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN US Labor Day -- coverage from Yahoo! Union Label Week is September 7-13 and information on union-made products and services is available from the AFL-CIO's Union Label Department Check The Label Want to find out where you can get a batch of union-made t-shirts, ball caps, flags, banners, briefcases and tote-bags? Get hold of UNITE's new Promotional Product Directory