Editor:
I write with respect to an item in “Kisses and Kicks” published on Friday, April 28. The anonymous “kick” was to “CUPE and other unions” and talked about the recent election campaign. As the president of one of the CUPE locals on the Sunshine Coast, I take exception to the false information presented in that item. I cannot speak for “other unions,” but our union, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), fiercely upholds the democratic process. We do not “tell workers how to vote.” We are very aware of our role to negotiate working conditions and wages, which is why we are so concerned about who the government of the day is and what they value. We support a government that values public services including education, health care and libraries because that supports a vibrant, healthy society and that is what pays our wages and affects our working conditions. If you are a member of CUPE local 801, or a member of any other local or union, come to a union meeting and exercise your right to a free and democratic process and voice any concerns you may have around how your dues are spent.
Carolyn Smith, President, CUPE Local 801, School District 46 Support Staff Workers
