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Labour Day Feature: Over 100 years of hard work on the North Coast

Celebrating our labour workers in the North Coast.
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Since Prince Rupert has been here the labour movement has been here. And though 100 years may have come and gone

The labour movement in Prince Rupert has a long and storied history.

If there was any question about how linked to labour Prince Rupert is, consider this: The City of Prince Rupert  celebrated its 100th birthday in 2010, and later that same year the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) celebrated its 100th year in Prince Rupert.

Indeed, since Prince Rupert has been here the labour movement has been here. And though 100 years may have come and gone, the role of labour in the lives on North Coast residents has remained strong.

When ships come in to call on Prince Rupert, they are loaded and unloaded by members of the ILWU and the Grain Worker’s Union. Prince Rupert’s position and future as a reliable and accessible international gateway relies on the work of the ILWU and its union members.

Our future is further linked to labour through our children. While in school, members of the Prince Rupert and District Teacher’s Union (PRDTU) stand at the head of the classroom while  members of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) and members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) ensure smooth operations.

When those we love fall ill and need to go to the hospital, chances are they will be cared for by members of the B.C. Nurses Union and attended to by members of the B.C. Government Employees Union (BCGEU).

And as people make their trip to and from Prince Rupert on the sea, they are being cared for by the members of the BC Ferry and Marine Workers Union.

These are but a few of the services that depend on those on the labour movement.

From fishermen and plant workers to postal carriers and teachers;  from electricians and carpenters to hotel workers and airline workers, the importance of the labour movement cannot be understated in Prince Rupert and the surrounding area.