Today is Labour Day, a shops-closing day across the province.

Most stores and businesses are closed as are municipal, provincial, and federal government offices.

Some recreational facilities are open including many local splash pads for the last long holiday weekend of summer.

Today’s stat holiday highlights the contributions of workers to society, and celebrates the work, and the fight, for fair working conditions.

Jerry Earle, President of NAPE says on Labour Day, he’s thinking about several strikes on the federal level that were mandated to return to work, and Canada Post, that are continuing to fight.

Looking back, workers’ rights have come a long way, according to Earle, but there is still more to be done.

(He says the fight to get weekends off have evolved into something that both union and non-union workers enjoy to this day.

In present day, Earle told VOCM News he’s “concerned” about the treatment of workers by large corporations.)