Our locals lend a hand to striking Commissionaires

Helping each other is what unions are about, and CEIU locals in Headquarters are showing it. Striking PSAC members who work as Commissionaires at Health Canada received moral and financial support from CEIU as they continue their battle for a fair contract.

National Vice-President for the Headquarters Region, Jacques Perrin, said he was proud of the support shown by CEIU locals. “The Commissionaires are a brave group who aren’t backing down from a tough employer, and we all feel good about helping out.”

PSAC Local 70113 (Ottawa Commissionaires) has been striking at Health Canada since November 2007. Donations from CEIU locals total $3200, but the support does not end there. Michael McLean, President of Local 70709 recently joined other supporters in a march with Commissionaires to the employer’s headquarters. “For a strike to be effective, the employer needs to know that the strikers are not alone.” McLean added that J.C. Gagne, a member of his local, had been instrumental in the original organizing of the Commissionaires.

CEIU National President Jeannette Meunier-McKay voiced her support for the striking Commissionaires and congratulated the CEIU locals for their contributions. “Walking a picket line in winter—especially this winter—is not easy. It’s a real grind, and help from others means a lot.”

Pictured below are Jacques Perrin (left) and Kyle Trudeau, President of CEIU local 70708 (right) presenting a cheque for $1500 to striking Commissionaire Lucien Latournelle. Local 70709 donated $1000, while locals 70702 and 70704 provided $500 and $200 respectively.