Montague Claude Gnreux, the national secretary-treasurer of Canada’s largest union will picket with the striking women of PEI’s Southern Kings Group Home Friday morning.
“These women care for a living and that’s being used against them,” says Gnreux. “They should be treated with the same respect they give to the group home residents.”
The women of CUPE Local 3373 have been on strike since May 29. They’re paid a third less than workers in the same classification with the same employer 40 kilometres away. They have no benefits and they’re paid 44 hours a week when they work 54.
Meanwhile the board won’t come to the table, despite having four members who enjoy union benefits.
“In a Globe and Mail article last week group home executive director James McClean agreed they do a socially valuable job. So I’m here to throw my voice in with the chorus of community support and say ’put your money where your mouth is,’” says Gnreux. “Until they do, this board needs to be reminded that when they take on CUPE and people who care, they take on all of CUPE. We’ll be here until this board meets with us and this is settled.”
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For more information:
Donalda MacDonald, President CUPE PEI, 902-969-9074 (cell), 902-838-0835 (work)
Claude Gnreux, Secretary-Treasurer CUPE National 613-794-8395 (cell)
Bill McKinnon, CUPE Representative, 902-439-1055 (cell)
Richard McGrath, CUPE Communications, 613-296-8438 (cell)
“These women care for a living and that’s being used against them,” says Gnreux. “They should be treated with the same respect they give to the group home residents.”
The women of CUPE Local 3373 have been on strike since May 29. They’re paid a third less than workers in the same classification with the same employer 40 kilometres away. They have no benefits and they’re paid 44 hours a week when they work 54.
Meanwhile the board won’t come to the table, despite having four members who enjoy union benefits.
“In a Globe and Mail article last week group home executive director James McClean agreed they do a socially valuable job. So I’m here to throw my voice in with the chorus of community support and say ’put your money where your mouth is,’” says Gnreux. “Until they do, this board needs to be reminded that when they take on CUPE and people who care, they take on all of CUPE. We’ll be here until this board meets with us and this is settled.”
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For more information:
Donalda MacDonald, President CUPE PEI, 902-969-9074 (cell), 902-838-0835 (work)
Claude Gnreux, Secretary-Treasurer CUPE National 613-794-8395 (cell)
Bill McKinnon, CUPE Representative, 902-439-1055 (cell)
Richard McGrath, CUPE Communications, 613-296-8438 (cell)