EDMONTON Custodial workers at Edmonton Public Schools are distributing 10,000 white ribbons to school staff to raise awareness about violence against women.
CUPE Local 474 President Doug Luellman said his union became more concerned about the issue nine years ago when a female custodial assistant, working alone, was violently attacked.
We promised her we would do what we could so that kind of attack doesnt happen to other women, said Luellman. The White Ribbon Campaign is part of that effort.
Luellman said that custodians will distribute white ribbons and information about violence against women to all school board staff between November 25 and December 6. The materials will include information about actions men can take to end violence against women.
The white ribbon campaign calls upon men to recognize that this violence exists, and that we have to do something to stop it, said Luellman.
Real men stand up for their mothers, sisters, daughters and wives and say no to violence.
The school district has sanctioned the campaign and is participating in it for the fifth year in a row. Im glad we are able to put aside the usual union-employer tension and work together on something as important as this, said Luellman.