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- “The lockout is shameful, indefensible, and indicates a complete lack of progressive union principles.”
- “It is interesting how Mr. Bymoen addresses his union members as brothers and sisters - I do not think a brother or sister would treat CEP Local 481 as what has been happening over the past 15 weeks. This is disheartening and clearly displays that Bob has his own interests at heart.”
- “This is a disgrace. I am a SGEU member and I am just wondering who is going to listen to us when we need to go to the bargaining table ... NO ONE! Who is going to support us if we need to go out on strike ... NO ONE!!! I am ashamed and embarrassed to be under our Leadership.”
- “It is reprehensible that SGEU would lock out its own staff. This action has greatly damaged the labour movement in Saskatchewan. Get back to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair collective agreement with CEP 481.”
- “I am stunned at the length of this lock-out. However, given the nature of most of the individuals on the executive I am not totally surprised. Most of them come from a hierarchal work place based on a highly defined power structure where its all about who has most power. They lack the ability to truly negotiate. I am sorry that the largest union in the province has become so distanced from its membership, so lacking in accountability to its membership and the labour movement. It is embarrassing that a union in the province known for its labour support should have the gall to lock out its employees.”
- “100 days, of heads hung in despair and shame. The bullies remain. When painting the picture one should maybe take into consideration the composition of the group responsible. The group that perpetuates this lockout is a smaller group within that uses intimidation and the threat of cutting off perks to those who don’t follow. If representatives allow themselves to be governed by perks/bonuses they are in it for all the wrong reasons, if they vote on motions based on whether or not they get to go to the next 3 day conference as opposed to how their members directed to vote they are serving for their own agenda. Rep by pop is the first joke in this sitcom. Although each sector is represented at provincial council by bodies based on members, take a look at where the representation is coming from. Once the numbers are determined based on the sectors members it becomes basically a free for all as to who represents the units within, if you look at the composition of provincial council there are units without representation and some units with more than their fair share. Also take into consideration, that even though a work group may have more than their fair share of representation at provincial council does not mean that the members are being represented. SGEU has a few that control the simple majority, democracy is the second joke. The third joke is on the due paying members of SGEU. Recall, recall, recall, and get this mess cleaned up!
- “The writing is on the wall for SGEU and it’s members! Other unions have cancelled events if SGEU members are attending. Those who are not friends of labour are mocking this dispute. The non-government taxpayers who had little or no sympathy for government employees who struck for better contracts, salaries and benefits will not give those same employees a second thought during the next labour dispute. SGEU is now sunk!
Unions are charged with negotiating for their members, SGEU has spoken loud and clear, they aren’t interested in bargaining with their own employees. If they aren’t interested in bargaining with their own employees, why would they negotiate for the members? SGEU members are now sunk! CEP 481 are out in the cold!”
- “I am saddened to say that my Sector and I believe all other Sectors besides PSGE are being held hostage by PSGE. There is an inability to get business done when the Provincial Council is a group that is formed by a representation by population. This means that the smaller sectors have less representation and PSGE dominates. What happened to DEMOCRACY.
Anyone should know that you cannot get business done when the Bullies outnumber the rest of the people.
Time to get back to business.
It is a sad day when our union is playing into the hands of the Union busting politicians.
Who is going to get the last laugh? Not us.
This is our union leadership and Democracy at its best fellow SGEU members:
Provincial Council and Admin Committee:
36 PSGE votes
2 Community Services votes
4 Crowns votes
8 Education votes
5 Health votes
3 Retail & Regulatory votes
Now who is the dictator? At this rate we will never be able to deal with the issues at hand. Namely the threat of Privatization, Part Time pensions issues, Grievances and so on. I know it has been cold but I sure did not think hell had frozen over but it appears it has.
Unfortunately for all of us we cannot even make a change due to the imbalance within our so-called governing body.”
“You are giving a blueprint to regressive employers on ‘how to’ break a union. Is that a good thing for the house of labour?”
- “Shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
- “If Bob had any decent morals and values in his life he would never have done this. How can he be a leader of 25,000 members and do what he is doing. Bob and Barry need to do the honourable thing and that is to resign their positions. I hope that they can look in their images in the mirror every morning.”
- “At this point in this dispute let’s get to the real issue, it’s no longer about bargaining a fair collective agreement, that isn’t going to happen with the current management. The team that continues to vote to lock out CEP 481 employees does so in order to protect what they are themselves after, the dues of SGEU members. There is no I in team, voting to continue this lock out is doing so in such a manner demonstrates that they do not represent the INTERESTS of the members, they have no INTEGRITY, and their INTENTIONS are self serving. There is a “me” in team when you take out t and a, which is what this dispute is boiling down to. When you have individuals that are not listening to their members, are jeopardizing thousands of those members’ ability to have any success in upcoming rounds of bargaining because of their actions, it’s all about ME. Once they bleed SGEU dry, like the leeches that they are, they’ll leave, but the destruction they’ll leave behind SGEU and CEP 481 members may never recover from. Calling for the resignation of these leeches falls on deaf ears, they have no integrity, the members of SGEU must hold them accountable for their actions as well as remove them as soon as possible.”
- “By demanding concessions, by refusing to participate in mediation, and by locking out their employees, SGEU elected officials are violating principles of fair collective bargaining that the trade union movement fought hard to establish. These principles are crucial to the success of the collective bargaining process. The actions of the current leadership compromise SGEU’s ability to insist on fair tactics when representing its members in negotiations with their employers. It is not in our interests as SGEU members to be represented by individuals who fail to respect or understand the principles of fair collective bargaining. The current leadership must go.”
- “It is time that Bob and Barry and any other elected union person that supports these 2 clowns are outsted. I am sick of those guys running the show. I do not see SHIT for the union dues that I pay (other than a bunch of BS trips being authorized at union meetings). Why hasn’t there been any attempt on the part of SGEU to get back to the table? Total Bullshit is all that it is. It is probably because the union officials - while not going to Broadway - are living the high-life at the Ramada using our union dues ordering in coffee and meals to fill their faces. Time to man up Bymoen/Nowoselsky and do what is in the best interest of all involved. RESIGN!”
- “A recent quote from Bob ‘They’re trying to paint me as a bad employer, but I wish the members I represent had a collective agreement like they have ...’, so is he saying that he is the sole employer of CEP 481? ‘He’ won’t meet with CEP employees until the employees negotiate away terms of their Collective Agreement because SGEU members don’t have these provisions? Pull your head out of your ass, Bob, and for a couple of seconds remember from where you came! We should not be demanding that our employees give up provisions and rights in order to be afforded the privilege of working for SGEU. Those provisions that he wishes the members he represents should have, should be the focus of the upcoming rounds of negotiations for all members, and not held as a penalty against CEP 481.
Bob and those on Provincial Council who prolong this action, serve at the pleasure of the due paying members of SGEU. Is this the best we can do? Albeit there are at least two sides to every round of bargaining, Bob’s comments alone dictate that we can do much better, we deserve better as do the staff of 481. There ought to be a tribunal for crimes against a union, but then we wouldn’t live long enough to get through all of the charges.”
- “Shame on the elected officials of SGEU. They are collecting dues from members and not allowing support staff to provide the services they are being paid to perform. Perhaps SGEU would sing a different tune if all locals withheld dues until this is settled? Stop acting like children. You’re affecting 24,000 members.”
- “As an ex union member I think Bob Bymoen has lost his mind, and his members should remove him, (a tall oak, strong rope and a nervous horse)”
- “I support workers who take whatever action is necessary to bargain for a fair collective agreement.”
- “As a recently retired member of SGEU, I encourage my union officials to settle this strike as it is harmful to the union, its members, and to the labour movement.”
- “One might ask themselves what is ‘management’ doing, the answer: nothing. Perhaps a better question, we are still paying dues for a service that is frozen, so what is happening to our dues? There was no money to give the staff a raise on the heels of our raises and subsequent increase to the coffers, they have been locked out for 2 months, we’ve still been paying dues. Management has the right to manage and yes sometimes they manage badly, but common sense would lead one to look in another direction, if we don’t, we might be sorry. The needs/wants of a few should not shut down the rights of the many.”
- “It saddens and dismays me that more and more workers employed by unions are being forced to strike or are thrown out on the street via lock out. This one is the topper. Where is the leadership of SGEU????”
- “Good luck, I hope your employer starts acting like a benevolent employer ought to act. SOLIDARITY.”
- “Though I am not a citizen of Saskatchewan but as a Canadian citizen and more importantly a trade unionist and a union member - in CUPE and now CSU - I am appalled that a union would stop working people from working and also demand concessions from its workers. This will be a blot on this union and can only be erased by taking the concession and bring its workers back to work and bargain a FAIR DEAL. In solidarity with CEP 481.”
- “Calling all SGEU members, now is the time to come to the aid of not only your own union, your future, but brothers and sisters that have fought and negotiated terms and provisions that you enjoy today! The elected officials that are making decisions to lock out employees that we pay to service us are out of control. Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely, if we don’t take our union back we may very well be in the same situation in a few short years. If the current government models their reaction to bargaining after the recent SGEU’s management model, we all stand to lose! Recall those responsible before it’s too late!”
- “I was a long-time SGEU member and I can’t believe they are doing this! This is an outright disgrace. Pay them what is fair! Inflation in the last year is way more than 3%. Housing costs have increased and these people need a minimum of 7% increase over 3 years. We are only hurting ourselves if our employees are paid what is due. Oh I forgot to mention, I was a shop steward for 9 years and this makes me sick!”
- “The actions of this union toward its staff is despicable. Whatever happened to collective bargaining? Please get back to the table and get this situation resolved. This dispute has gone on far too long already and is harmful to all union members in this province and country!”
- “As an SGEU member, I am sorely disappointed in the role SGEU has taken in this dispute. As a union, SGEU has an opportunity to be a leader in the field and truly embody the union principles we supposedly advocate for. By locking out your own employees and refusing to go back to the table and negotiate a FAIR agreement, SGEU has held itself out as an unreasonable and anti-union employer. It is an ironic and unfortunate position to be in considering that we are a Union and supposedly united in our philosophy.”
- “The Sask Party and their minions in the SGEU leadership will not win the day. Stay strong CEP 481 -- you have justice on your side.”
- “I am a member of SGEU and am presently paying union dues to my union. I am dismayed that my union is behaving this way to workers in a sister union. I only just got this information yesterday in the mail. I will offer my support to the locked out workers in Prince Albert now that I know. SGEU management is behaving like the very worst employer would not dare to. My sincere hope is that your employer will immediately return to the table to bargain a just contract for your members.”
- “Get back to the table and negotiate! This has been an embarrassment to have to relay to our management that we cannot proceed with our own negotiations due to the labour dispute within our union. How credible do we look? I should think that SGEU would strive to be an ‘Employer of Choice’ and be the type of organization that is proud of their great wages for their staff and their sick bank model. I as an SGEU member have no qualms regarding the wages and sick bank that the CEP members have negotiated over the years and I support them in their wage increase proposal. In Solidarity.”
- “Locking out the employees who have negotiated and fought diligently for members SGEU is appalling, embarrassing and disgraceful. Denying unionized members the basic right to negotiate a fair contract by locking them out and refusing to enter back into dialogue is setting not only a dangerous precedent but sending a loud message to due paying members respective employers. To those members of Provincial Council who voted in favour of this action, not only should you hang your heads in shame, you should immediately resign your elected positions as you have obviously lost perspective! If your employer treated you in this manner for a minute you’d be screaming your heads off! Do unto others as you would have done to you as opposed to do unto others and then split.”
- “It’s too bad negotiations had to come to this state of events. The staff of SGEU is a hard working group of individuals that deserve better. My best to all of you during a time that should be about celebration and good will.”
- “Bob get some backbone and stand up to Barry, this is an insult to all trade unionists. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Do not whine and sniffle when your employers slaps your hands because SGEU has become a laughing stock of the trade union movement, maybe SGEU should have stayed as a Social Club because you certainly are not showing leadership as a Trade Union.”
- “’No concessions’ is a concept that ANY union ought to understand.”
- “Hopefully this can be resolved quickly. I’m left wondering where the Principles of the Labour Movement have gone. In Solidarity.”
- “Get to the table, or at the very least agree to a mediator without conditions. You are putting a black mark on the face of labour.”
- “Shame on SGEU for doing this to your staff members.”
- “Nothing short of an SGEU leadership change will properly fix this situation.”
- “It is deplorable that a union locks out its own workers bargaining in good faith. A sorry comment on the current state of labour relations ...”
- “Sounds like SGEU president Bob Bymoen is taking his job too seriously.. to the point of non-negotiation. Because somehow, someway, he might feel threatened for some reason. The opposite would take affect if he were to approach these issues with balance and a problem solving attitude. He would find a work force dedicated and appreciative that he went to bat for them. Then you could comfortably say that SGEU Union is truly a Union and Bob has shown by example how to fairly run this business. Right now there is a clear line of the Haves and Have Nots and I take it Bob would rather dig in his heels and stonewall progress rather than have a healthy environment to work because he has too much of himself linked to power he thinks he has. Too bad for Bob. He could be ousted also or voted out for his track record as well, couldn’t he? He would be wise to take another approach. This is back in the 40’s era. Haven’t we progressed since then???
- “Why on Earth won’t anyone step up to do the “Right” thing? Livlihood is at stake and stubbornness on behalf of the union officials shows lack of compassion, at best. What does the word UNION mean, anyway? All members, including regular employees and officials should have an open forum that actually works! This act of lock out is clearly officials pushing their weight around and to what result? I think that the regular members who work for the union do not want ridiculous demands met but rather a fair and equitable compromise. By the looks of things... there is no union except for the officials. Sure, Union Officials don’t want strikes for every reason under the sun, but look at the issues at hand ... The Officials should put into perspective if they had a grievance they were passionate about, how would they try to negotiate? Would the Officials take a freeze in pay or promotion or deal with less while other seem to thrive? I think NOT!”
- “It is time to get back to the tables. We as SGEU members are left in the cold with no representation. This is not good.”
- “Just sad how it has to turn out.”
- “I am appalled at the actions of SGEU. The staff of your organization has worked hard for your members for years and now, as you face a new employer, you take action against your staff. How will you be able to criticize actions taken by the Sask party against your membership when you have no problem attacking those who try to protect you. Shame on you for forgetting about the principles of trade unionism. Bargain fairly now!!!”
- “SGEU should be supporting its employees instead of locking them out. These people work long and hard and deserve better treatment. Thank you.”
- “As a member of SGEU and former elected official with SGEU, I am disgusted by the conduct and tactics used by Provincial Council in locking out the staff of SGEU. The staff are the life-blood of the union. By locking out the staff, provincial council has sent a message to all employers in this province that it is OK to lock out SGEU members down the road. Further, we have damaged the reputation of SGEU in the larger labour movement beyond repair.”
- “Employees should be treated fairly and with respect.”
- “What kind of role model is SGEU being for its present membership? I personally am disgusted and have lost any confidence I had in them as an organization.”
- “Give your staff an agreement. SGEU you should be ashamed of yourself.”
- “Brothers and sisters: I’ve worked with many of you and I’m stunned that this is happening. How can this lockout of your staff be good for the members or the morale of the union? Your union is so important - please get back to the bargaining table for the good of everyone.”
- “No union should EVER lock out it’s staff. Shame on the management of SGEU. Brothers and sisters stand your ground, you are not alone.”
- “While I am not a resident of Saskatchewan I am still concerned over the treatment of staff members whom SGEU depend on a daily basis to fight for and defend the rights of SGEU members including not accepting concessions at the bargaining table. It’s a shame that the leadership of SGEU does not see fit to extend this same right to the very staff that they have so much faith in. Shame!”
- “I can not believe that an organization that would not support any concessions for their membership would lock out their own staff for taking the same position of no concessions.”
- “This is a very sad time for the labour movement when one union acts like management. 481 deserves a fair contract. ‘An injury to one is an injury to all’.”
- “Settle fairly with these employees! How embarrassing that they work hard for all government employees, but aren’t benefitting financially to the same extent!”
- “Isn’t this what we all want is a fair collective agreement. Lets make this happen and get our brothers and sisters back to work!!”
- “As an SGEU employee for 23 years, learning and working to uphold trade unionism I am greatly disappointed with the elected officials of SGEU for treating their staff so badly. There is no way to comprehend what is taking place, and I urge you to do everything you can to put an end to it and bargain in good faith with a desire to find a win win for everyone concerned.”
- “I am very concerned that SGEU would lock out its own staff for not agreeing to concessions that it would likely never ask its members to accept. It sets a very bad precedent for employers everywhere and must be stopped.”
- “While I am not a citizen of Saskatchewan, I am a citizen of the Trade Union Community, and I find your actions as a trade union to be deplorable. You should be setting the standard as a model employer, not demanding concessions and locking out workers when you don’t get them. Shame on you! Go back to the table with a FAIR settlement, with no concessions. You are acting on behalf of the members of SGEU - show that you know that they appreciate the staff of the Union!”
- “I never thought, in my lifetime, I would see anything like this happening by one union to another. So what will happen if the new government does this to them will they (gov’t) be the bad guys - well ...”
- “I have a concern with a Union locking out its employees and virtually shutting down bargaining. Fair bargaining is our business. There is no way to settle if there is no talking going on. I trust both sides will look at fairness in the settlement. It has been too long since the last agreement was signed and the loss to the SGEU employees because there was no agreement should be a factor to consider because they did continue to perform their duties and responsibilities in good faith, without the agreement, that a fair agreement could be made. My hope is that SGEU will also consider how we the Union could be viewed in the eyes of labour and other employers in our province. We have brothers and sisters who will be bargaining in the future and I am certain this action will be referenced in their processes. It is scary to me that an employer could say to our bargaining committee ... ‘you locked out your employees and stopped fair bargaining etc ... therefore that must be a process you are ok with ... ‘ Thank you.”
- “... to all members of the SGEU ... your Provincial Council make you all complicit in this action, and you all should be ashamed of yourselves. This is a black day for the labour movement in this country.”
- “The employer seems to be playing Sask. Party politics already!”
- “Good luck to all the employees. Hope this gets resolved soon. Hang in there.”
- “Many, many things wrong with how we treat our staff...”
- “I retired from the public service in April 2006, but remain concerned about my former union. Quit making things easier for governments and businesses to mess with their employees! Get back to the bargaining table and deal respectfully with your staff.”
- “What a sad sad day. This shameful behaviour on the part of SGEU is a black eye for the union and a total embarrassment for the trade union movement in this province and Canada-wide. What a fine example of how an employer should treat its workers! Is this how SGEU aims to be a trend setter? Bullying is a major public issue in schools and the workplace these days. Well I say: Bully Bob! Bully Bob! Bully Bob! SHAME ON YOU and every one of your executive who initiated this action. Get back to the bargaining table, negotiate a fair settlement, and start to treat your employees with the respect they deserve!”
- “Locking out your own staff is embarrassing to all of us in the labour movement. Its time to start negotiating ...”
- “Let these people get back to work and give them something, after all, they helped you get what you wanted!!”
- “Coming from a province of farmers, we all know that ‘as you sow, so shall you reap’. I think our SGEU leadership are sowing some very nasty seeds that will haunt them, and us, and the rest of organized labour in Saskatchewan for a long time to come. And the longer this problem festers, the worse the outcome for everyone, including the CEP 481 staff.”
- “I think this is disgusting for a union to LOCK OUT another trade union. I would say that the members running SGEU can and should not call themselves unionists at all. What a message to be sending to the newly elected Saskatchewan Party. What will Bob Bymeon and Barry Noweselsky do when the Saskatchewan Party comes and locks them out the next round of bargaining. Also if any SGEU union member is doing the work of the staff then they should be told that they are scabs. There is no other words to describe that. I only hope that when the Saskatchewan Party locks one of the SGEU sectors out they can find the support from other trade unionists. I know have supported SGEU picket lines in the past at SIAST and the most recent one at the correctional centres, but will have a hard time supporting them in the future.”
- “As a long standing member as well as a honorary life member of SGEU I expect better from my Union. I expect that they would treat their employees with respect and bargain with them in good faith. In addition I find it unbelievable that a Union would even contemplate much less actually lock out its employees. I demand that you return to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair and equitable settlement with your employees.”
- “I am an SGEU member I am disgusted that Bob is doing this; give your workers what they deserve. These are the people that fight for us at the bargaining tables to get us what we deserve. Bob now its your turn!!!!! It angers me we are paying union dues and are getting no service!!!! WHY???? Because Bob isn’t doing the right thing, SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!
- “Shame!!!! As a trade unionist I find your actions violate the very heart of trade unionism, end the lock out now!!”
- “Although I am not a citizen of Saskatchewan I am very concerned with how the employer is treating it’s employees. Especially being that a union is the employer.”
- “Let’s get this settled!”
- “SGEU needs to step up and get their butts back to the bargaining table.”
- “How could you possibly think of offering these people any less than you got in your last settlement?”
- “The actions of SGEU are a disgrace to the labour movement.”
- “Lock out is unacceptable, concession bargaining by a union is unbelievable. We are supposed to set the standards ... we fight for fairness for all. With a Sask Party who wants to privatize public service, and make changes to the Trade Union Act, SGEU is playing into their hands. What about the members who have negotiations stalled due to SGEU management locking out CEP?? They are paying consequences of SGEU management’s arrogance. Obviously SGEU management is focused only on SGEU management and not their employees or their members.”
- “It is a sad day when a union locks out a union...Shame on SGEU...what a fine example you have set for other employers!”
- “It is an embarrassment to have SGEU act worse than all the anti union negotiators ever have.”
- “I can’t believe that a trade union would resort to these sort of anti-labour tactics.”
- “Please get back to the table.”
- “Please resume your discussions at the bargaining table and remove the concessions you are requiring. You will have to find a way to resolve your differences and work together with your staff. Maybe a mediator should be brought in to asist the parties in reaching an agreement. It is important to move quickly and resolve this issue as the Sask Party is planning on a December sitting of the legislature. Who knows what they have planned and it would be in everyone’s best interest to have this dispute resolved. I am sure you will find a way to deal with this issue.”
- “I find it especially grievous when a ‘Union’ locks out its employees! It’s certainly not behaviour I would expect from a Union. I urge you to get back to the bargaining table and treat your employees fairly.”
- “In 35 years as a member of SGEU I have never been so ashamed of our so called management team, the provincial council. We have a tradition of leadership, a history of justice, and a membership who has always fought lockouts because we see them as the ultimate insult to workers. Shame on you and shame on us for allowing this to happen. Scab Management Rules at SGEU should be the headline in Union Matters. Or should it be Who Matters and Who Cares! SGEU staff deserve better. There is no issue too great, no workers more deserving. Resolve it now if you have any union values left!”
- “SGEU (my union) ought to be ashamed.”
- “As a union member I find this very stupid tactics on the part of the Officials of the Union. It does the union movement no good to see this type of action taken by the union (employer)”
- “Fair negotiations are needed in this matter.”
- “Please reach a fair and honourable settlement with your staff as soon as possible.”
- ” I think the way SGEU is behaving is deplorable. Who ever heard of a union locking out it’s staff? Who’s next - the Province? One of SGEU’s smaller bargaining groups? Maybe SIAST? SGEU has set the stage for every employer in the province to lock out rather than negotiate.”
- “One would normally believe that a union should lead by example, stand tall and be proud of the salary and benefits it provides to its employees and try to achieve this for all of its members. Not so, SGEU’s elected structure has decided that if there is a benefit(s) (i.e. the sick leave bank) that someone else has and they don’t (the PS/GE) have the same thing - then they should just take it away and make everything look like the PS/GE. Would the PS/GE members like to have their salaries and benefits frozen until the Community Service Sector of SGEU catches up to them? I think not!!!!! The greed is coming out of the closet.”
- “Let these people get back to work and give them something, after all, they helped you get what you wanted!!”
- “We expect better conduct from a union. Members will pay the price of this lockout.”
- “As I said on the picket line last week, I am astounded by the incredible lack of wisdom and trade union principles shown by the employer. To order a lock-out the night before a provincial election (and subsequently) change of government, shows a flagrant disregard for SGEU members and all union members in the country. Is this an open invitation to employers in the public and private sector to lock out employees instead of solving labour disputes in an orderly fashion? This is further amazing, when the reality of the labour market is a shortage of labour and should be a time when labour unions make gains for workers. I’m still trying to get my head around all this.
When a labour dispute is two years old, it’s time to be at the bargaining table seriously bargaining. It’s not the time to put people on the streets as the dead of winter approaches.
Will the members of SGEU see the folly of this line of decision-making? SGEU members, and the labour movement as a whole, are the BIG LOSERS here. Unfortunately, the members of CEP 481 are paying the price.”
- “Keep up your spirits, I support your cause and methods to achieve a fair collective agreement.”
- “Just a note to let you know that you have my full support. I am an SGEU member from the Canadian Mental Health Association. We have been hearing some rumblings that we may soon face back pressure on our benefit package. We need to hold your beachhead for yourselves and for everyone. Hopefully, we’ll see you on your picket line soon.”
- “It must be the year of Union employer’s brains taking a holiday. The Canadian Staff Union (my Union) and the other CUPE staff unions had to strike against our ‘Union’ employer earlier this year as well. It was unpleasant but necessary, as your fight appears to be. I want to encourage you all to stay strong and stick to your guns. Right makes Might!”
- It is with great sadness that I write this email. I believe that it is contrary to our trade union principles to lock out the staff of unions ... I believe, like many of you, that unions should be held to a higher standard when dealing with the staff of the union; we talk the talk and must walk the walk ... SEIU Local 299 stands with the CEP 481 workers at SGEU across the province. We salute your solidarity and encourage your employer to reconsider their decision and bargain a fair and equitable collective agreement!”
- “We love you members of CEP 481! Stay Strong!”
- “Keep it up CEP 481!!!! We will continue to fight for what’s right!!”
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