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Dear Sisters and Brothers:

May Day is a time of celebration and reflection of our collective struggle. It is a day to celebrate all the gains that the trade union movement has made. And it is CUPE’s day to celebrate our role in the larger movement – from our gains at the bargaining table to our struggles for equality.

This May Day we ask you to think about workers throughout the world, their struggles, their victories and the solidarity we have with them. Especially our solidarity with:

  • The Alliance of Progressive Labour in the Philippines.
  • South and Central American workers through the Health Care Workers’ Exchange.
  • Unions and labour organizations involved with the People’s Summit in Mar del Plata, Argentina last year.
  • Unions and labour organizations at the WTO meetings in Hong Kong in late 2005.
  • Our sister unions in South Africa, NEHAWU (National Education, Health, and Allied Workers Union) and SAMWU (South Africa Municipal Workers Union).

May Day belongs to all working people and should transcend borders so that workers feel part of a larger movement. We join in solidarity with workers everywhere to create a better world, which respects and celebrates workers, our culture and the labour movement as a whole.

Let’s continue to use our solidarity here at home to fight for a universal child care program, an end to privatization of our health care system and all public services.

Let’s use our solidarity to speak with one voice in responding to attacks on our movement.

Let’s come together in the spirit of solidarity to fight for women’s rights, minority rights, the environment, a fair economy and social justice.   

We wish you a great May Day.

In solidarity,

PAUL MOIST                           
National President                       

CLAUDE GÉNÉREUX
National Secretary-Treasurer

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May Day Statement