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Every September 30, Canadians mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. For the Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC), this day is more than a statutory holiday. It is a solemn reminder of the legacy of colonialism, the devastation of residential schools, and the urgent responsibility we all share to advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. As a union committed to social justice, equality, and solidarity, we know that real reconciliation requires more than symbolic gestures. It demands action, education, and a commitment to systemic change.
The history of residential schools is one of the darkest chapters in Canada’s story. For over a century, Indigenous children were stolen from their families and forced into institutions designed to strip them of their language, culture, and identity. Many never returned home. Survivors carry scars of trauma that reverberate across generations, affecting families, communities, and entire Nations. The discovery of unmarked graves at former residential school sites has forced Canadians to confront a truth that Indigenous peoples have spoken of for decades. These truths cannot be ignored or explained away. They require recognition, accountability, and justice.
Unions like the PPWC have a vital role to play. The labour movement has always stood for dignity and fairness for all workers, and those values must extend to Indigenous peoples across this land. As workers, we know that solidarity is strongest when it crosses divides—of race, class, gender, or geography. Standing with Indigenous communities in their pursuit of justice is an essential part of building a fairer society for everyone.
Recognizing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is one step. It ensures space is made for education, reflection, and commemoration. But the day must not be treated as simply a day off work. It is a day for workers, families, and communities to learn the real history of Canada, to honour the memories of children who never came home, and to recommit ourselves to dismantling the ongoing systems of oppression that Indigenous peoples face.
Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The PPWC believes education is key. Unions can use this day to host workshops, share resources, and invite Indigenous speakers to discuss the impacts of colonialism and the resilience of Indigenous cultures. Employers, too, have a responsibility. They must provide time and space for their workers to meaningfully recognize September 30, not as a formality but as a commitment to building safer and more inclusive workplaces. True reconciliation requires that Indigenous workers are valued, respected, and supported in every sector of our economy.
Moreover, reconciliation cannot stop at recognition. Governments must move beyond words and fulfill the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This means funding Indigenous education, ensuring access to clean water and adequate housing, addressing systemic racism in healthcare and policing, and respecting Indigenous sovereignty. It means implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in full, ensuring Indigenous peoples have the right to free, prior, and informed consent over resource development projects that affect their lands and communities.
As a union, we know that economic justice is deeply tied to reconciliation. Indigenous peoples continue to face higher rates of poverty, unemployment, and unsafe working conditions compared to the rest of the population. That is unacceptable. The PPWC supports policies that create fair, unionized jobs for Indigenous workers and that invest in Indigenous-led economic development. We stand against corporate practices that exploit Indigenous lands and labour without fair benefit to the communities most affected. Justice means equity in wages, access to benefits, and safe workplaces for Indigenous workers across Canada.
Solidarity is not just about words—it is about showing up. That means supporting Indigenous workers who are organizing, defending their rights on the job, and speaking out against racism. It also means ensuring our own union practices reflect reconciliation. The PPWC is committed to including Indigenous perspectives in our decision-making, amplifying Indigenous voices in our union, and building partnerships with Indigenous organizations and communities.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation challenges us all to ask: what does reconciliation look like in action? For us, it means remembering that every collective agreement, every campaign, and every act of solidarity must also reflect a commitment to justice for Indigenous peoples. It means using our power as workers to hold governments and corporations accountable, and it means never being silent in the face of racism or injustice.
On September 30, we honour the children who never came home, the survivors who live with the trauma, and the families and communities who continue to fight for justice. We also recommit ourselves to action. The PPWC believes that reconciliation is inseparable from workers’ struggles for dignity, equality, and fairness. When Indigenous peoples achieve justice, all working people in Canada move closer to a future built on respect and solidarity.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a call to reflection, but more importantly, it is a call to action. Let us answer that call—together.
