Heather Wright/The Independent

Union members flooded Sarnia’s downtown for the annual Labour Day Parade.

The Sarnia and District Labour Council hosted the 124th Labour Day Parade. The council represents 27 union affiliates with over 8,500. It took more than an hour for union members to make their way down Front St. To Centennial Park Sept. 7.

This year’s celebration is in the shadow of the tariff war with the US. Canada will impose counter-tariffs on the US Sept. 8.

In a news release, the president of the Canadian Labour Congress says Canada’s unions are calling for stronger Employment Insurance with easier access, increased benefits, and support for workers directly and indirectly affected by the trade war with the US.

Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress says “There will be real costs and disruption. Workers cannot be left to shoulder those costs and risks alone.”

Protecting workers and communities through the disruption also means maintaining the public services people rely on and ensuring government support for companies protects Canadian jobs and production, Bruske added.

“Economic uncertainty cannot be used as an excuse to weaken workers’ rights.”

In Sarnia, hundreds of union members walked through the downtown proudly waving the union banners.

Parker Phillips of Sarnia was watching for her Uncle Steve, a member of Local 793 of the International Union of Operating Engineers.

The members of Local 128 of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers walked the parade route with their families.