December 19, 2013 – Around this time of year, it's hard not to notice the goodness of people – the high school student holding the door so you can get the stroller through; the person who comes rushing to your rescue in the parking lot with a set of jumper cables; children meeting for the first time while building a snowman at the park; strangers sincerely wishing other strangers good wishes for the season.  Altogether, it is a season of sharing goodwill as a caring and diverse community.

At the same time, it is a season where millions of families and children in Canada will go hungry because of growing inequality and cutbacks to social services. Donating to food banks and charity can help, but as individuals joining together we can do much more than that. We know we can, because as families we have experienced the strength of sticking together to build a future. As a union we know that by working together, we build justice and equity everyday in our workplaces and neighbourhoods. As a community, by standing together, we also have the strength and goodness to battle inequality and replace it with fairness and opportunity.

It is a gift we can all cherish and make possible. From member to member, and from coast to coast, best wishes for the season and for 2014 to you and your family.

In solidarity,

Paul Meinema,
National President