A delegation of 19 members were in attendance at the Region 1 Conference out of an approximate 120 total participants. Marie Clarke-Walker, Isabelle Miller, Holmann Richard, and Chris Wilson were all speakers/panellists bringing the Canadian perspective to the Women's, Men's, and Strategy sections of the conference. Yolanda McLean and Megan Whitfield assisted newly-acclaimed first-ever female Region 1 Director Sharon Lovelady-Hall with her Leadership workshop. Hans-Woosly Balan, Pierre-Richard Joseph and Holmann Richard arrived ready to man our fundraising booth, but unfortunately the border patrol denied our Chapter access to carry our promotional goods across the border so there was no chapter fundraising done this time. Thanks to Andrea McCormack for making the attempt to transport our goods, and next time, we may have to ask you to show a little leg:) Kidding!
CUPW Solidarity Letter
Below is the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists-Canada's (CBTU) open letter of support for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers in their current round of contract negations. CBTU is inviting all members and supporters to add their voices to the letter below by clicking the hyperlink in the first paragraph and following the instructions. Doing so will send your voices to Minister Mackinnon and the various senators representing your province. Thank you.
In solidarity
OPEN LETTER
The Honourable Steve Mackinnon
Minister of Labour
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Dear Minister MacKinnon,
I am writing on behalf of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Canada (CBTU Canada) and in solidarity with our members who work for Canada Post as members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) demand justice, fairness, and respect for the rights of Canadian postal workers. The recent decision to force postal workers back to work through a back-to-work order, particularly during the busy holiday season, is profoundly troubling and requires immediate and urgent reconsideration.