Winnipeg CUPE social service workers in Manitoba met on the weekend and issued a challenge to the main political parties competing in the provincial election.
The social service workers listed a number of key issues they think a new Government should address (see the attached).
Virtually nothing is being said about social services during this election, said Sheree Capar, Co-Chair of the CUPE Social Services and Childcare Committee which organized the workshop. No one seems willing to confront the problems of the erosion of services and society that really are important to everyone in Manitoba!
We are working on the front line of social services and we know the people were serving. They need appropriate support and adequate resources, but no one seems to be paying attention to them during this election! Is this because children do not vote, because marginalized/victimized people generally do not speak out or have expectations except to be revictimized?
So were sending a list of questions to the parties and putting them on the spot. What are they going to do about the state of services where there are long waiting lists and many deserving individuals not getting appropriate attention? questioned Capar. Whoever is elected will then see us in the fall.
The CUPE members met to plan activities as part of a RESPECT Campaign the union launched last month at their annual convention in Dauphin. The campaign will focus attention on the state of social services in Manitoba, pressure officials to adopt supportive programmes that benefit those in need, and raise awareness of the importance of social service workers to these services and to all Manitobans.
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The Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canadas largest union representing more than a half-million women and men. In Manitoba, CUPE represents 24,000 members working in health care facilities, school divisions, municipal services, social services, childcare centres, public utilities, libraries and family emergency services.
For more information, contact:
Sheree Capar, Co-Chair of the CUPE SSCC, 942-0343, ext. 298
Maureen Morrison, CUPE Representative, 942-0343, ext. 208
