Posted on: October 29, 2009  @ 14:35

“Sometimes Sorry is Not Enough”

Here is the statement I made at the Press Conference held October 29 in support of the National Campaign “Stand up for Aboriginal human rights” initiated by the Public Alliance of Canada (PSAC).

“CUPW joins with the other Unions in demanding that Prime Minister Harper take concrete steps to stand up for Aboriginal people. CUPW is frustrated that Harper’s historic apology to residential school survivors has not been followed up by real actions.

 CUPW wants the Harper Government to:

  • Take real steps to ensure that Aboriginal people do not remain in poverty. 
  • Act now to fix the water crisis on many Aboriginal reserves. It is appalling that many Aboriginal peoples are facing daily and ongoing boil water advisories.
  • Sign the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples. Postal Workers are angry and embarrassed that Canada is one of the few countries in the world that has not signed this declaration.

The Prime Minister should also stand up for postal service for Aboriginal People. The Government recently issued a postal services charter which promised that 98% of Canadians will have postal services within 15 kms of where they live. The government has the responsibility to make sure that Canada Post provides adequate postal services to remote Aboriginal reserves. CUPW is aware, for example, that the Constance Lake First Nations was without a postal service since November of last year, and that the residents were required to travel 80 kms round trip to pick up their mail. This scenario is being repeated in many communities.

 One way to ensure Aboriginal people don’t live in poverty is for companies like Canada Post to take real steps to increase their recruitment and retention of Aboriginal workers.

 The labour movement knows that as long as Aboriginal people live in poverty and as long as Aboriginal people have no access to safe clean drinking water, no ONE can be fully free and equal.”

 

The struggle continues

 

cupe 1979 / cope 225