MGEU members in Churchill have banded together to help out their brothers and sisters from the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees (UCTE) who worked at the Port of Churchill.

In early August of this year, approximately 60 Port of Churchill employees were laid off when their employer, Omnitrax Inc., announced its decision to permanently close the port. By this action, 10% of the town’s population became unemployed.

MGEU members in the community wanted to do something to help brighten the holidays for these families. Through their initiative, a donation of $2500 in gift cards for the local Northern store was made by the MGEU to these Port of Churchill workers.

“Our members in Churchill have seen the impact of these job losses on their friends, family and neighbours in their tight-knit community and wanted to do something to help them out. I commend them for taking the initiative and I’m happy our union was able to help,” said MGEU President, Michelle Gawronsky.

In turn, the workers’ own union, UCTE, decided to match the MGEU donation for a combined $5000 in gift cards, which were presented to families this week.