7/28/2019 CUPE 3903's Letter of Support for Demonstrators in Turkey

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June 13, 2013

The Executive Committee of Local 3903 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE

3903) declares ourselves in solidarity with the demonstrators throughout the Republic of Turkey.

The demonstrations which began on May 31, 2013 have been entirely peaceful and speak to the

conscience of vast numbers of the population of Turkey. The Turkish government's response to the myriad

grievances against its policies has been beyond disproportionate, with security forces using armoured

personnel carriers to engage in mass-arrests, firing high pressure water cannons filled with pepper-spray,

and utilizing tear-gas guns to fire large projectiles. Thousands of demonstrators have been arrested and

injured, some critically.

The Executive Committee of CUPE 3903 stands in admiration of the pluralistic composition of thedemonstrations throughout Turkey, and is hopeful that such expressions will be an example to follow in our

own country. We are struck by the fact that a population of a democratic country is choosing and able to

draw attention to a diverse range of political wishes outside of a routinized electoral cycle which, in

practice, is often the only available venue for political expression in democratic countries. Indeed, people inour own country face similar grievances as the brave people of Turkey. There exists throughout Canada, an

increasingly autocratic push to: gentrify our cities and neighbourhoods, degrade our environment, limit

civil-liberties and mask government corruption, and formulate foreign policies which destabilize other

countries; all in the name of narrow corporate and financial interests.

The Executive Committee of CUPE 3903 adds its voice to the international chorus of support for

those brave demonstrators throughout Turkey who are looking for nothing less than to better their own and

their neighbours life-opportunities.

In solidarity,

The Executive Committee of Local 3903 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE 3903)http://3903.cupe.ca/executive

Faiz Ahmed, Chairperson

Garry Sran, Unit 1 Chief Steward

Peter Braun, Unit 1 Vice President

Julio Fonseca, Unit 2 Chief Steward

Marnina Norys, Unit 2 Vice President

Mehdi Samadian, Unit 3 Chief Steward

Charlie Andrews, Unit 3 Vice President

Lauren Pragg, TFAC Co-ChairJohannah May Black, TFAC Co-Chair

Charles Battershill, Communications Officer

Parbattie Ramsarran, Grievance Officer

Gregory C. Flemming, Recording/Research Secretary

Joanne Azevedo, Treasurer

Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3903

Room 2050, Technology Enhanced Learning Building, York University, 4700 Keele Street

Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3 416-736-5154

http://3903.cupe.ca

http://3903.cupe.ca/executivehttp://3903.cupe.ca/executive