Labour history – Union of Canadian Transportation Employees

Bienfait Coal Miners’ Strike of 1931

September 29 is the anniversary of Estevan’s “Black Tuesday,” a dark day in the early history of labour organizing in the Prairies. Estevan, Saskatchewan was the site of deadly violence in a struggle for miners’ union recognition. In 1931, the...

September 29, 2026

Equity Human rights Labour history PSAC Social justice UCTE history

International Equal Pay Day

All workers have the right to equal compensation for work of equal value, regardless of gender. It’s easy to say, and easy to agree with, but not so simple to put into practice. Pay Equity in Canada Canada adopted the...

September 18, 2026

commemorative days and observances Equity Labour history Labour movement Labour Rights

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 2, 2026

Collective Bargaining commemorative days and observances Labour history Labour movement Social justice

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...

May 1, 2026

commemorative days and observances Equity Human rights Labour history PSAC PSAC campaigns Social justice UCTE history

International Pay Equity Day

It’s 2025 and we are still working to end gendered pay inequity. Removing gendered divisions between workers is a core objective of labour – better equity leads to better unity, and vice versa. At the same time, it helps that...

September 18, 2025

Collective Bargaining commemorative days and observances Human rights Job Action Labour history Labour movement Social justice

Labour Day Check-in

Monday, September 1 is Labour Day. Each year we celebrate, commemorate, and march while looking to the fight ahead. Looking Back: Recent ups and downs So far, the Carney Government seems to be at least as willing as the Trudeau...

August 29, 2025

Rights, just not the Same Rights as Other Workers

Collective Agreements Collective Bargaining Employers Human rights Labour history Labour movement Treasury Board

Rights, just not the Same Rights as Other Workers

Not every worker in Canada is a member of a union that allows them to be part of collective bargaining with their employer. Some workers in Canada are not even entitled even to minimum wages and other basic protections. But...

August 21, 2025

Human rights Labour history Social justice

May is Asian Heritage Month

We salute our many members with Asian heritage, and we invite all members to learn and support Asian Heritage Month organizations and events in your community. We simply would not recognize the world we live in without the contributions of...

May 2, 2025

May Day 2025: continuing the fight for labour rights, justice, and equality

Labour history Labour movement

May Day 2025: continuing the fight for labour rights, justice, and equality

On May 1 we observe May Day, aka International Workers’ Day. The U.S.A. and Canada observe Labour Day in September, but May 1 is the world’s Labour Day — by and for the international working class. How Labour Day Began...

May 1, 2025

World Book Day: read our union’s history

Labour history Labour movement

World Book Day: read our union’s history

United in Action profiles the UCTE from the beginning of Canadian public-service labour organizing to the release of the book in 2023. Strikes, conventions, and political milestones are featured in this history, but also an awareness of the day-to-day hard...

April 23, 2025