Western Unifor locals donate more than $50,000 to food banks
VANCOUVER, May 1, 2020 /CNW/ - Unifor locals from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia have marked International Workers' Day by making donations to local food banks across Western Canada.
VANCOUVER, May 1, 2020 /CNW/ - 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.
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.
Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.
SOURCE Unifor
