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On September 30, the Confederation of Canadian Unions (CCU/CSC) joins workers across the country in observing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, widely recognized as Orange Shirt Day. This solemn day honours the survivors of the residential school system, remembers the thousands of children stolen from their families, and reflects on the generational impacts of state-sponsored assimilation policies in Canada.
The orange shirt serves as a poignant symbol of the culture, dignity, and autonomy stripped away from Indigenous children over generations. Observing this day is an essential pledge toward active justice, education, and solidarity with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.
Since its founding in 1969 as an independent and democratic labour federation, the CCU has consistently maintained that trade unionism is fundamentally intertwined with social justice and human rights. Over the decades, the federation and its affiliated unions have championed Indigenous rights both in the workplace and across broader society.
Union delegates have repeatedly passed policy resolutions demanding meaningful government action, like advocating for the settlement of land claims, treaty recognition, and immediate investments to resolve long-standing water advisories and housing crises in Indigenous communities. Furthermore, Canadian labour advocates continue to urge full federal implementation of the recommendations from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).
True reconciliation requires structural accountability. Organized labour holds a vital responsibility to help dismantle colonial legacies by pushing for fair employment practices, enforcing equitable wages, eradicating workplace discrimination, and ensuring Indigenous voices guide decisions affecting their traditional territories.
Every year, the CCU calls on its affiliated members and all workers to go beyond symbolic gestures. Meaningful solidarity requires continuous learning, supporting Indigenous-led organizations, attending local commemorative events, and advancing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action.
By wearing orange, listening to the lived experiences of survivors, and pushing for policy reforms, CCU members and working people across Canada reaffirm their commitment to walking alongside Indigenous peoples in the ongoing movement toward equity, healing, and lasting justice.
