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May 1, 2020
VANCOUVER—Unifor locals from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia have marked International Workers’ Day by making donations to local food banks across Western Canada.
“Layoffs resulting from the pandemic means workers everywhere are hurting. From lobbying to improve safety at work and government emergency programs to community donations, Unifor is working to help all workers, union and non-union,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “At the local level, Unifor members have taken action to help reduce hunger during this challenging time.”
A total of $50,000 was pledged from more than 20 locals across the prairies and B.C.
Unifor local unions representing workers in many sectors participated, including transportation, forestry, media, manufacturing, telecommunications, mining, rail, energy, and aerospace.
“When crisis strikes, workers come together to support other workers, whether they are unionized or not,” said Leanne Marsh, chairperson of Unifor’s B.C. Regional Council.
Unifor’s Social Justice Fund and Canadian Community Fund pledged the seed donations to start the May Day project. The B.C. Regional Council and Prairie Regional Council followed suit by pledging their own donations.
“Many Unifor local unions have suffered from layoffs during the pandemic, but they’re still digging deep to contribute to the community-wide effort to help struggling families,” said Guy Desforges, chairperson of Unifor’s Prairie Regional Council.
A diverse assembly of Unifor locals pitched in with donations, representing workers across the west in most economic sectors:
Prov. Local Sector
MB 7 Telco
MB 755 Dairy
MB 468 Services, Transportation
MB 144 Gaming, Manufacturing
MB 3003 Manufacturing
MB 830 Manufacturing
MB 191 Media
MB 561 Fishery
SK 1S Telco
SK 911 Information Technology
SK 649 Energy
AB M1 Media
AB 72A Education
AB 4050 Education
BC 114 Aerospace, Armoured Car, Courier, Warehouse
BC 3000 Hospitality, Gaming
BC 433 Pulp & Paper
BC 780G Printing
BC 2000 Media
BC 950 Telco
BC 333BC Transit
BC 603 Pulp & Paper
BC 825M Media
BC 3018 Mining
BC 101R Rail
BC 111 Transit
BC 2200 Transit
BC 2301 Mining
BC M1 Media
BC 601 Energy
Earlier this month Unifor’s Canadian Community Fund donated commercial-grade refrigerators to the Bear Clan Patrol’s food security project in Winnipeg’s North End.
To arrange for interviews, in-person or via Skype/Facetime with Gavin McGarrigle, please contact Unifor Communications Representative Ian Boyko at @email or 778-903-6549 (cell).
