Thousands marched through the downtown streets during Toronto’s annual Labour Day Parade Monday, with the notable exception of Mayor David Miller - historically a fixture at the event.
Miller did turn up to shake a few hands Monday morning, but did not participate in the march down University Avenue.
The Labour Day snub is the result of lingering bad blood between the traditionally union-friendly Miller and the city’s organized workers in the wake of the six-week-long public workers strike.
Miller wasn’t invited to take part in the parade, which snaked its way to the CNE, but appeared unaffected when asked about the omission.
“Of course there’s going to be some working out with CUPE,” he admitted. “The good thing about it, we settled it in a way that’s very fair to the public purse and I was very pleased with that settlement.”
Meanwhile, Canadian Auto Workers National President Ken Lewenza suggested this year’s Labour Day Parade holds particular significance.
“It’s probably been the most difficult 12 months we’ve experienced in the last three decades as employers take advantage of this global financial crisis,” he charged. “And it’s not just one sector of the economy it’s every sector of the economy.”
NDP leader Jack Layton was on also hand, speaking on the concerns of unemployed workers unable to get help from the Employment Insurance system because they do not qualify.
The annual parade is intended to commemorate organized labour and the rights of workers. This year, however, an estimated 500,000 fewer Canadians are in the workforce; victims of the recession.
Labour leaders spoke ahead of the parade - this year entitled "Good Jobs For All" about changes to the EI system, the need for green jobs and increases to public pensions.