Over 100 locked-out postal workers and their supporters marched through the downtown streets of Fredericton today, June 23rd. On their minds was an imminent vote in Parliament that could legislate them back to work. The vibrant march stopped at the N.B. Legislature where people, gathered in opposition to back-to-work legislation, participated in chants and listened to speeches.
“Whose streets? Our streets?” Postal workers and supporters take to the streets in Fredericton:
“The Power of the People Don’t Stop!” Postal workers and supporters chant on the streets of Fredericton:
The postal workers and supporters march to the N.B. Legislature:
Jody Moss, president of the Fredericton/Oromocto Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), and Dave MacKinnon, a Fredericton postal worker addressed the crowd as did Michel Boudreau with the New Brunswick Federation of Labour and other union representatives.
“Union members in New Brunswick stand strong with our brothers and sisters at the Canadian Union of Postal Workers and we are calling on New Brunswick Members of Parliament to vote against back-to-work legislation,” says Michel Boudreau, President of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour. “Imposing back-to-work legislation goes directly against working people’s most fundamental right; the right to collectively negotiate the terms and conditions of their employment with the right to strike over unresolved differences. The federal government is not respecting the International Labour Organization conventions it has ratified which guarantee freedom of association for trade unions, and promote good paying jobs for all.”
The Fredericton Raging Grannies performed songs they wrote especially for the occasion.
The march and rally was organized by the Fredericton District Labour Council.
Before the rally had concluded, Parliament had already voted to prolong the debate on the back-to-work bill.
