The University of Lethbridge Graduate Association (ULGA) stands in solidarity with employees from Local 55602 – Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development (CAHRD). Representing over 300 academically employed graduate students, ULGA calls on the Employer to agree to a fair and equitable contract.
Employees of CAHRD have been working tirelessly to support and uplift Indigenous communities and that effort is going without recognition or support at the table by the employer and Government. Despite their essential work, their bargaining team has not been able to secure a fair or equitable contract due to the Government funders not prioritizing CAHRD employees; this is unacceptable. We call on the Government funders to uphold their commitments of Truth and Reconciliation by ensuring these employees are fairly compensated for their work. It is time that CAHRD employees are paid salaries that are equal to those that do similar work in non-Indigenous organizations.
Improving the working conditions of CAHRD employees, will, in turn, improve the living conditions of the Indigenous communities they serve. Disparate salary and working conditions threaten the ability for CAHRD employees to serve their communities.
We hope the Employer will return to the table on February 14th and 15th with a fair and equitable agreement. It is time that Local 55602 reach the agreement that they deserve.
In Solidarity,
Jackson R. Ham
President
University of Lethbridge Graduate Association
Vice President Labour Graduate Students’ Association University of Lethbridge
ULGA 