Monday, September 2, 2013

Provincial Labour Federation Marking 100th Anniversary

This Labour Day is special for the New Brunswick Federation of Labour because it's celebrating 100 years of existence having been formed in Saint John on September 16th, 1913. 

Provincial Labour Federation President Patrick Colford tells Tide News there have been many battles fought and won since then to improve working conditions for everyone including Medicare, the 8 hour work day, vacation pay and parental leave. 

Colford says there are still too many seniors in poverty and growing income inequality with the backlash in recent years against organised labour.
 

He points out unionised workers earn, on average, over 7 dollars more an hour than those employees who are non-unionised. He estimates, for the provincial economy, that translates into 26.8 million dollars more each week.