Dear Sisters and Brothers:
On June 15, Premier Ball announced that the provincial government would be partnering with the federal government to provide essential workers with a one-time, lump sum payment. The program provides income to some essential workers but ignores others. The program parameters work to restrict access to many frontline workers who have provided essential service during this pandemic.
CUPE strongly feels that ALL essential workers deserve to be recognized for their service during this difficult time. All essential workers have been on the front lines, providing necessary, sometimes life saving, support to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Many of them have done so at tremendous personal cost. CUPE members have sacrificed a great deal to serve the people of this province. And, they have been proud to do so. Some have had to make the difficult choice to send their children away for the duration of the pandemic to keep them safe.
Health care workers in every classification have showed up every day, knowing that their actions will help to keep long term care residents safe, will help to keep our hospitals and patients safe and will help to slow the spread of the virus. They have been in health care facilities knowing that their work was essential to do all of this and to care for all those who were hospitalized with the virus.
CUPE health care workers have been at the bedsides of the ill, the frail and the elderly since the pandemic began. They are the ones that have provided care, comfort and support to every resident and patient in their facilities when family members could not be present.
The Ball Government has ignored many of these workers. Many CUPE members feel left out, disrespected and ill treated by this fact.
CUPE calls on the provincial government to recognize the service of all those who have been on the frontline of this pandemic providing necessary services to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. Without the services of these essential workers where would the people of the province be?
CUPE members deserve better. They deserve to be recognized for the sacrifices and difficult work that they have done to help the Province navigate these difficult times.
In Solidarity,
Sherry Hillier
CUPE NL President