Category: commemorative days and observances
Sound Off: International Firefighters Day
Today we salute our airport firefighter members—and all firefighters. Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) is a key part of operations at airports, among the many workers behind the scenes who ensure our safety and security when we travel. We won’t...
May: Asian Heritage Month
The labour heritage of Asian-Canadian workers is a lesser-known part of our shared history. Even many of our Asian-Canadian members might not have heard much about it. The Labour movement and UCTE could not be where we are today without...
May Day 2026
The fight for better working conditions never ceases. May Day is International Workers’ Day. It commemorates the Haymarket massacre: unions in the U.S. had set May 1, 1886, as their goal for achieving the eight-hour workday. A general strike was...
Workers’ Day of Mourning
Each April 28, workers and advocates gather at memorials around the world to mourn those killed or injured on the job. Flags will be at half-staff on federal government buildings, and many workers will wear black armbands, pins, or ribbons...
Climate Change and Our Work
It’s Earth Day 2026, and the situation is clear: climate change is something we must all face and adapt to. Efforts worldwide to avoid worsening impacts of climate change have not yet been enough. Mitigation and adaptation strategies are called...
Arab Heritage Month
April is Arab heritage month. Members with Arab heritage, we salute you and appreciate your contributions! To other members: how well do you know the role of Arab heritage in making up our workforce and our country? Almost one million...
“Where Water Flows, Equality Grows”: UN-Water
This year’s theme for World Water Day, set by UN-Water, is a thought-provoking one: “Water and Gender.” They provide an activation kit for people around the world to learn more about the gender aspects of water issues around the world...
International Day of la Francophonie
We are fortunate to be interconnected with francophone heritage around the world. Connections with French-speaking cultures and peoples everywhere enrich what it is to be Canadian. La Francophonie is also at the heart of our trade unionism. Francophone workers built...
International Women’s Day 2026
Struggles for social justice take time and perseverance. That applies even to a struggle for the rights and dignity of half the world’s people. According to UN-Women, “As we enter the second quarter of the 21st century, no nation has...