I’ve been meeting a lot of people over the last three weeks. And I’ve been collecting a lot of email addresses. When I was searching through my things today, I came across the business card of one Laura Kaminker, a name I failed to recognise. But there was a web address: wmtc.ca which led me to We Move To Canada, a blog that I have had the pleasure to read on occasion.
Scrolling down a little lead me to an article she’s recently written for The Mark called “On Strike for Us All” where she argues that CUPE standing up for what we believe is right helps all workers:
I don’t have the best job out there, but I want those better jobs to exist. Good union jobs raise the standards for all workers. I thank the striking Toronto city workers for holding the line – for all of us. The inconvenience caused by the strike is temporary, but we need good jobs in our community for generations to come.
Coming from a non-union member, that does mean a lot, and it’s a refreshing dose of sanity after reading weeks of rants along the lines of “I don’t have it so you shouldn’t either.”
Laura, I thank you, and if we’ve met, I’m sorry I don’t recall. It’s been a blur lately, but I hope we meet again. (Oh, and a belated “welcome to Canada”).
Hey, thanks for the link!
Since you have a business card of mine, I’m guessing we met – very briefly – at the Commissioners Street transfer station. I came out for some picket support on Canada Day, and a mutual friend introduced me as a blogger, and I gave you a card.
I have deep union roots – it’s part of my DNA. But I’d like to think that even without that family history, I’d support you all, because justice and good jobs are more important than whatever inconvenience people are experiencing.
Hang in there!! Thank you for fighting for all of us.
Thanks, L-girl!