This weekend CUPE 2081 honours the lost children, Survivors and intergenerational Survivors of the Canadian Indian residential school system. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is inspired by the story of Survivor Phyllis Jack Webstad, and people across Canada have officially commemorated September 30th as Orange Shirt Day since 2013.
Public and private commemorations of this tragic and painful history and the ongoing impacts of residential schools are both difficult and vital components of the reconciliation process. We trust that all members of our community will be engaging in thoughts of reflection to honour the children who survived and remember those who did not.
One of the ways CUPE locals can support reconciliation is by bargaining language supporting Indigenous workers into collective agreements, and CUPE 2081 is proud to have negotiated the addition of Sep 30th within Article 19.01 of your current CA.
This Monday and every other day of the year, let’s work together to commemorate, to honour, to demand justice, and to take action to end systemic racism and the ongoing harms of colonialism.