By Kyle Ireland

Increase in minimum wage, childcare themes for Labour Day event in Ladysmith

Sep 5, 2016 | 6:10 AM

LADYSMITH — Labour Day celebrations are being put on in Ladysmith today by the Nanaimo, Duncan and District Labour Council.

The 26th annual Labour Day Picnic runs from 11am to 2pm at Transfer Beach.

Labour Council President Ellen Oxman says there are some successes to reflect on, but there are also challenges that lie ahead for workers.

“This year we’re certainly celebrating the increase to CPP, looks like it’s going to happen this September,” said Oxman. 

“We’ll be looking at things that we feel are important and part of our core values. That is an increase to the minimum wage, having it at $15 an hour and tied to the cost of living. And we’re also looking at universal childcare.”

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Oxman explains the Labour Day Picnic is a fun event but also a time to think about the issues the labour movement has had to fight for.

“The things that we have were hard fought, they weren’t given to us. We work very hard as unions in our area to preserve the rights that we have and the benefits that we have. And we work also to make sure that others can attain those benefits.”

The Labour Day Picnic typically draws about 500 to 600 people.