I feel compelled to answer the article in
Northern Life on June 5 regarding replacement workers (scabs)
as Espanola Community Living caregivers go on strike.
I was totally appalled by Mila Wong's
comments that, "we have reduced rates of incidents."
I can only take from that statement that she
is implying her real employees were being abusive to the
clients.
What a disgusting thing to say. In my
opinion, that is a libelous statement. These strikers are doing
nothing more than exercising their democratic rights.
I have several questions for Wong and her
board. It is my understanding they are paying the scabs more
per hour than they were paying the real employees.
It is also common knowledge that they are
paying the hired commandos (security guards) $1,500 per day per
commando.
They are also paying for scabs, their
hotel/motel rooms, rented vehicles, meals and laundry
services.
This really begs the question: how much has
the board been setting aside from each yearly budget in order
to finance such a costly, outrageous, irresponsible
strike?
The board, whoever they are, claim they are
broke and cannot, or rather will not, give these long-servicing
employees a collective agreement with
dignity. They are not only robbing these
employees of their livelihood, but also the Town of Espanola
and surrounding communities.
I would hope the board will have the courage
and common decency to make public a full accounting of what is
being irresponsibly spent on this strike.
In closing, I want to make it very clear that
it's not only CUPE that's supporting this strike. All labour
organizations are supporting these workers as well as the
business community and residents.
Wyman McKinnon
President
Sudbury & District
CUPE Council