From hostility to unity: Filipino workers settle in rural N. B.

In the small, tight-knit town of Campbellton, in northern New Brunswick, where everyone knows each other’s name, change can be unsettling. Like many rural areas, Campbellton has experienced out-migration and population decline. But in the fall of 2023, a significant change swept through the town, stirring both suspicion and hope among the locals. A group of Filipino workers had been recruited into Campbellton to fill positions at the local nursing home. Their arrival sparked both curiosity and apprehension among the nursing home staff, represented by CUPE 2354.

 

“It was a big transition when I came to Campbellton,” says Rhea Marie Gayares, a Resident Attendant, who landed in the town without knowing a single person while needing to sort out some basic necessities before starting her new job.  “I needed to go to the bank. I needed to get my SIN. So, with all my courage I just walked up to some Filipinos that I met in the hallway of my building and asked them where I needed to go.” The employer provided workers with accommodations and oversaw their move to Canada. The arrangements highlighted the broader vulnerabilities often experienced by temporary foreign workers across the country. Housing was cramped, but affordable rental options in Campbellton were scarce. Many workers lived in a precarious financial situation, and some were even forced to seek help from food banks. 

 

On top of these challenges, the employer attempted to create a divide in the workplace. Months before the new workers arrived, the employer st0ked fears among the existing staff, warning that their jobs were at risk and could be replaced by foreign workers. For Nancy Adams, president of CUPE 2354 and a Licensed Practical Nurse with over 21 years of experience, it was no longer business as usual. This wasn’t just another change – it was a test of leadership – as she was at the centre of the challenge to maintain unity in the local. Adams recognized that how the union responded would determine whether the members would strengthen solidarity and trust with each other or fall victim to division.

 

So, she made a pivotal decision: she called for help from Marie-Gabrielle Gagnon, CUPE’s human rights representative, and June Savoie, CUPE 2354’s servicing representative. Together, they strategized with local members, not just to prepare for the arrival of the new workers and their immediate needs, but to address concerns. Adams emphasized the need to focus on shared humanity and common goals, making it clear that this was an issue worth fighting for.

 

Adams personally greeted the Filipino workers with heartfelt handwritten letters, and the local prepared welcome kits for everyone that included, among other things, essential information and the union’s collective agreement. Union members rallied to help, bringing food, groceries, diapers, uniforms, and clothing. Private union meetings provided a safe space where the new workers  ould voice their struggles. The local’s efforts went beyond welcoming new members into the union — it was about standing up for their well-being, like other CUPE locals had done in similar situations.

 

The union’s leadership made it clear that the Filipino workers were not competitors, but allies striving for better lives in Canada. “We were encouraged to join union meetings,” recalls Mary Annabelle Elumba, a Personal Support Worker who moved to Campbellton  along with three other workers. “They said they would help us if my colleagues and I have any problems.” For instance, CUPE 2354 made it a priority to ensure that all workers were treated equally, regardless of their  employment status or background. Once the new  staff had started and as many full-time positions were becoming available, due to high turnover in the sector, the employer attempted to block Filipino workers from applying to those jobs. “Our union really helped us a lot,” Gayares recounts. “When there were a lot of vacancies for full-time positions, it was our union president that stood up to make sure we could apply for them.” By fighting for the right of temporary workers to be treated the same as others and to post into available permanent positions, Adams and her team prevented the employer from filling these vacancies with a continuous stream of new temporary workers, perpetuating precarity and inequalities.

 

As the months passed, more Filipino workers began attending union meetings. CUPE 2354 made sure these meetings were held in neutral, comfortable locations to foster inclusivity. By April 2024, the participation of the new workers had increased significantly, and the union meetings became a space for building solidarity. Adams and her executive would often stay behind after official proceedings to address any lingering concerns with the new workers and to promote trust and safety. Over the next months, their strategy paid off as more and more workers were engaging in union activities and recognizing the value of collective  strength.

 

The union’s inclusive approach not only built solidarity between local and foreign workers but also brought new energy into the local. This approach is key to organizing in any local union context. It results in a much stronger union,  where all members are engaged 

and the employer is unable to pit one group against another. Today, with nearly half of the nursing home’s workforce composed of Filipino workers, CUPE 2354 is stronger and more unified than ever.  “Our members understood that these workers, like so many before them across the country, had come seeking better opportunities for themselves and their families,” Adams explains. She reflects on this journey as one of growth for the union as a whole. There is now a growing recognition of the need for increased  representation on the local executive to reflect members’ diversity.