Saturday, June 30, 2012

There's a Fine Line Between "Fun" and Child Abuse--and CUPE's Summer Kiddie "Camp" Has Crossed It

The National Post details some of the "fun" on offer at the Canadian Union of Public Employees' summer experience for kids:
CUPE Youth Council 2011, ages 9-14
• Visit Occupy Vancouver protest site.
• Attend tribute to Jack Layton.
• Re-enact a workplace injury scenario.
• Listen to Burmese youth discuss human rights.
• Talk about social justice, environmentalism, racism, activism, labour movement
• Create list for “What is a union” and “What we want to change.” 
Yikes, that sounds like pure torture! It's a wonder no one thought to call in the Children's Aid Society.

Update: More CUPE "fun":
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 29, 2012) - An unmistakable pink bus will lead members of Ontario's largest union in this Saturday's Dyke March in Toronto. The bus, belonging to CUPE Local 966, will provide support to the marchers, but also help draw attention to the ongoing strike in the Region of Peel.

"CUPE Ontario members are in the Dyke March to recognize the strength and contribution of lesbian women to our communities, our workplaces and within our union" says Fred Hahn, President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario. "We also want to recognize the strength of the women who are on the picket lines in Peel fighting for equality."

Local 966 members from Ontario Works/Human Services, TransHelp and Public Works are currently on strike seeking a contract that is consistent with those given by municipalities within the region. The Ontario Works/Human Services unit has been out longest and most of its members are women. They provide services relating to employment, child and health care, court support and immigration settlement.

"This has been a good spring for LGBTQ people with the passing of anti-bullying legislation and Toby's Act. We're calling on the Region of Peel to cap it all off by showing respect and equality to working women," says Denise Hammond, CUPE Ontario executive board member and President of Local 1281.

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