Fighting Together
Students Support Postal Workers on Strike
On June 17, postal and other unionized workers were joined by students as they protested for nearly four hours to show their support for CUPW members. The demonstration took place at 225 Bridge St., and was attended by an estimated 70 people.
At Concordia, 11 associations have officially declared their support of CUPW’s actions by taking part in the Students for Posties Campaign. The group has released a solidarity statement, undersigned by a number of associations, including the Concordia Student Union, the Graduate Students’ Association of Concordia and Free Education Montreal.
Students for Posties held its own protest June 21 outside the Pharmaprix across the street from the EV building, which houses a Canada Post location.
In their statement, Students for Posties draws a link between students’ fight for accessible education and the postal workers’ current struggle.
“This whole fight is really about fighting against neo-liberal policy,” explained Rushdia Mehreen of Free Education Montreal. “What students are fighting is this, and this is what happening with the postal workers.” She said that the issue is rooted in the current government’s attempt to downsize public services.
GSA VP External Holly Nazar says students have good reason to support the postal workers. “Good, unionized, stable jobs are disappearing for people like us,” she said. “One of the main things that the postal workers’ union is fighting against is not for themselves, but for new workers.”
Nazar pointed out that for students, this fight is just beginning for those who are displeased with Stephen Harper’s plans for the next four years. “This is the first round, the first fight,” she said. “The more we do now, the more we can protect our education and our communities for the next four years.”
Mehreen says that while the students’ decision to mobilize alongside postal workers could potentially result in them receiving support in return, the intention was never to give in order to receive. “At this time we need to just think of supporting them [CUPW members],” she said. “And not just do it thinking that they will come back and support us, or that they necessarily should.”
While the relationship between the students’ fight for accessible education and the postal workers’ plight may not have been immediately obvious, the support was certainly appreciated.
“I think it hadn’t occurred to [the postal workers] yet that student unions could be involved,” said Nazaar. “ I think they put call-outs to other unions for support, but they were really glad to learn that there are student unions in Montreal who are really interested in supporting them.”
To read the complete Students for Posties statement, and to see the complete list of undersigned groups, click here
