Frontline heroes deserve justice
- Details
- Published on Saturday, 11 April 2020 07:04
- Written by editor
Friends,
Normally, a long weekend like this would mean visiting friends and family, coming together for meals, or maybe going on a short trip. This weekend, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, we’re all doing things a bit differently. I know that my plan is to stay at home and connect with loved ones over video chat and an online card game with my family. I also plan to take some time to thank essential service providers who will be hard at work for the whole weekend.
Healthcare workers, grocery store clerks, cleaners, delivery drivers, postal workers, and so many others put their health on the line for all of us every single day and this long weekend is no different. That’s why over the next few days, we want to show them that we appreciate it, and, that we’re calling on our governments to step up and support them in every way possible.
Frontline workers deserve more than just gratitude. They deserve dignity, respect, and justice. They... deserve liveable wages, paid sick days, the right to refuse unsafe work, job security, and proper benefits.
Here are some simple ways you can support workers and demand protections this long weekend:
- Make some noise (and make it political). Step outside or go to your window and clap and cheer for #FrontlineHeroes! And while you're at it, shoot a short video or take a photo with a message for Justin Trudeau and the Premier of your province or territory.
- Create a handmade sign that you can display in your window to put your gratitude for frontline workers on display. Next to it, make another sign demanding that our government step up to support the people keeping us all going, and ensure a just recovery for all. Check out our toolkit for some template designs.
- Get your neighbours and friends in on it. Adapt this letter and deliver it to your neighbours to get them in on the plan to thank frontline heroes and demand worker protections. Or, make an online event page or calendar event and invite all your friends. Here's an example of an event page that our friends in Yellowknife set up on Facebook.
Once you take action this weekend, make sure you e-mail us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your photos. If you have social media you can also post them online with the hashtag #FrontlineHeroes.
All across the country, people have already been thanking essential workers in creative ways. That's why this long weekend, we want to make sure we accompany expressions of gratitude with demands for worker protections.
We still have a long way to go in this pandemic. And, even longer to come out of this on the pathway to a just recovery. But, we can do it together, and that starts with supporting the frontline workers helping all of us make it through this.
In solidarity,
Atiya
PS - As frontline workers risk their lives, Big Oil billionaires are doubling down on lobbying political leaders for massive bailouts. This is unacceptable. Today, Stephen, a young oil industry worker, published an open letter to Prime Minister Trudeau calling on him to reject bailouts for Big Oil and demanding support for a Green New Deal instead. Check out the full letter here and please share it with your friends.
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