Did you say free? (Gallery)

In what is perhaps a measure of the labour situation facing Canadians today, the more that are precariously employed, the better the turnout at a free BBQ picnic.

Hundreds lined up to receive free food, drink and cake at the 10th Annual Labour Day Picnic, hosted by the North Bay and District Labour Council at the waterfront. Donations were collected for the North Bay Food Bank.

Many families toured the grounds, enjoying inflatable slides, face painting, a rock climbing wall, balloons, popcorn and cotton candy.

Foremost on the minds of the union leaders was the state of the Canadian worker. Henri Giroux explained that "Labour Day is a great day to highlight the fact that unions have helped Canada become a socially and economically strong country. Canadians enjoy a relatively decent quality of life, but things could be better, much better."

The theme of this year's event was "We Stand for Fairness," a campaign designed to bring awareness to potential improvements in the Labour Relations Act and the Employment Standards Act," continued Giroux.

Wayde Smith, North Bay representative and executive member of Sudbury-based United Steel Workers (USW) Local 2020 had the outsourcing of jobs on his mind. "Because of all the business going international, the USW has to become better partners internationally. We continue to push for more full-time work, to eliminate precarious labour as much as possible," said Smith.

"We don't want people to be working three or four part-time jobs all over the place, without coverage. There has been a lessening of full-time positions in North Bay, Sudbury," and beyond relayed Smith, adding, "Nowhere is safe at the moment."

"The fact that so many people in our community work precarious jobs, and can barely pay for basic needs," said Giroux, means "it's simply no long fair for too many citizens...Low-paying and insecure jobs do not lead to a decent standard of living anymore, they perpetuate poverty.

"After all, a decent, stable job is the best way to end poverty, and that's what we should strive toward," concluded Giroux.