Labour unions and workers rally in St. John's for International Workers' Day

Union members and student groups marched side by side in downtown St. John's Thursday afternoon to celebrate the workers' movement and demand improvements in workplaces.

The rally was part of the annual International Workers' Day, also known as May Day.

"May Day has been a day each year where we gather together to talk about the importance of the rights that we have as workers," said Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour president Jessica McCormick. 

The rally comes in the midst of an international trade war in which U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs are directly impacting Canada's automotive sector and its workers.  

McCormick says tariffs are top of mind for workers across all industries, and that they're even seeing some employers attempt to roll back collective agreements made with unions because of them. 

"It's important for workers to mobilize together to talk about why we need to push back and also make gains at the collective bargaining table," said McCormick. 

A new federal government was also elected earlier this week, with a Liberal minority government led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, who largely positioned himself during his campaign as the solution to tariff threats.

McCormick said fear of tariff-induced job losses persuaded people's decision at the ballot box during this election.  

Despite the threat, she says there's still hope for the labour movement, adding that May Day brings together labour movements across the country. 

"We have more in common with each other than with the billionaires who try to keep us down," she said. 

And in Newfoundland and Labrador, McCormick says the labour union is particularly strong, adding that the province has more unionized workers than anywhere else in Canada. 

According to Statistics Canada, collective bargaining coverage rates were highest among employees in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2023. 

"We have a proud union movement and a proud union history in Newfoundland and Labrador," she said, referring to William Coaker, who was a historic union leader and politician in the province that led fish harvesters and formed the Fishermen's Protective Union in 1908. 

But she says there's still more work to do, adding she still hears concerns from workers about violence in the workplace, issues with wages and benefits and lack of access to mental health support. 

McCormick said she hopes the rally sends a message to newly elected politicians that unions will hold them accountable, and will make sure they prioritize workers as they navigate their relationship with the United States.

She also wants workers who aren't unionized to know that there is a place for them in the labour movement. 

"When we come together … use our strength that we have in our numbers, we can win and we can make a difference in working people's lives."

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