RELEASE, 9 December 2009
SUDBURY—The Sudbury District Labour Council (SDLC) will be holding a candle light vigil to commemorate International Human Rights Day and to support the Steelworker’s strike at Vale-Inco on Thursday, December 10th at 6:00 pm. The event, which is sponsored by both the SDLC and United Steelworkers Local 6500 will start at the McClelland Arena in Copper Cliff and continue with a candle-lit procession to the Steelworkers’ picketline at Vale’s smelter.
The vigil will be held on International Human Rights Day—the day that marks the 61st anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. The Declaration includes several articles on economic human rights and workers’ rights including the right to work and join trade unions (Article 23), the right to rest and leisure (Article 24) and the right to a decent standard of living (Article 25).
Organizers say they want to show that the Steelworkers fight at Vale is a human rights issue. “Workers’ rights and the right to decent work and a decent standard of living are some of the most important aspects of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. We see the Steelworkers fight at Vale as a human rights issue, and an issue impacting this entire community, not just the members of Local 6500.”
Week of Action for Working Families
The Workers’ Rights are Human Rights Candle Light Vigil will kick off a Week of Action for Working Families in Sudbury and at Vale locations across Canada. In Sudbury union members, student activists, retirees, and families of the strikers are planning six days of action on the picketlines and across town. The week is being organized by USW members and community supporters as an opportunity to display widespread and growing support for the Union’s struggle for a Fair Deal at Vale-Inco.
Contact: John Fera, President, USW Local 6500—705-675-3381
John Closs, President, SDLC–705-929-1496
For a full schedule of Week of Action events, please click here.
