[Jan 20, 2008 08:12 PM]
January 17, 2008
Letter to the Editor
Daily Gleaner
Telegraph Journal
On behalf of our membership, we would like to express our support for the workers of the Canadian Union of Public Employees - Local 1251. CUPE Local 1251 represents workers in institutional care and services in our province – correctional officers, custodians, and human service counsellors. This Local is currently on strike, however, the public may not be aware of this fact since these workers don’t have the right to picket their employer in their place of work.
The workers who provide institutional care and services are largely invisible to us, the general public, yet they provide care and service to others on an unfailing basis. Many others depend on these workers, for example, human service counsellors provide various kinds of support for individuals and families while custodians ensure the cleanliness of our community colleges. Our institutions would not function without these workers.
As a society we depend on government employees such as those of Local 1251 to care for those in our institutions. This kind of work in our society continues to be devalued and underpaid. Since we entrust public institutions to look after those in need, we should support better working conditions and wages for those who work in them. Public institutions are a vital part of our social fabric and we must value and seek to improve them.
In closing, we support CUPE Local 1251 in their demands for fair wages. They deserve parity with fellow workers in other government departments in New Brunswick and across the Maritimes. We urge the government of New Brunswick to negotiate a just settlement with the workers of CUPE Local 1251.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Dudziak,
President,
Faculty Association of the University of St. Thomas