The May 1st "Fete du Travail" came early to Montreal, as workers across disciplines marched together Saturday afternoon and drew attention to their cause ahead of the October election. 

Unions and other grassroots groups took advantage weekend to commemorate the annual worker's day, which falls on a Tuesday this year.

Front and centre for the event was the issue of workplace safety. More than 200 people died on the job in the province in 2016. 2017 saw that number go down by 18, but demonstrators said it's still too high.

"If someone is killed on the job and the employer could have prevented that, then the employer should be arrested and charged and do jail time," said demonstrator Isabelle Miller. 

Public Services of Quebec Union President Christian Daigle pointed to an incident earlier this year in which a Transport Quebec employee was killed while working on Highway 20 in Dorval, an accident he said could have been prevented. 

"They have committees for health and security on the job," he said. "They have to listen to them, they have to listen to the workers, they have great ideas."

The organizers of the event defended causes like reinvestmenting in social programs, a healthy work-family-study balance, a $15 minimum wage, and the transition to a "green" economy, among others.

"Everyone will benefit from it if we pass a law to have $15 an hour and it's very important for all the families and mostly women who under wage right now," said Daigle.

Quebec Solidaire spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois was present for the march and said the increase to the minimum wage will be a major component of the party's platform as it gears up for the campaign. 

"Alberta is targeting $15 an hour, Ontario is also," he said. "A few states in the United States also, so it would have seemed a dream a few years ago and now, it's becoming true."

Another major issue being discussed was companies prioritizing technology over a fair work-life balance for employees. 

"They need to take sides for us, for the people who are working for them," said Daigle. 

Members of labour organizations, student associations and community groups, as well as elected officials from the Parti Quebecois and Quebec Solidaire took part in the early afternoon rally at the Olympic Park. They marched to the Parc des Faubourgs, near the Jacques Cartier Bridge.

Unions in labour disputes, like those of automobile dealers in Beauce and Rivière-du-Loup, affiliated to the CSD, and that of the Bécancour Smelter (ABI), the United Steelworkers, affiliated to the FTQ, opened the march, armed with flags and whistles.

A few months before the election in Quebec, the protesters took the opportunity to make their demands heard.

In an interview given to The Canadian Press on Friday, FTQ President Daniel Boyer pointed out that these issues reach all citizens and workers in Quebec - unionized or not unionized.

It was also Louise Chabot's last appearance as President of the CSQ at the annual Labor Day Walk. She will retire in June.

- With files from The Canadian Press