See further below for what you can do as an individual and what unions can do.
Hurricane Melissa has ripped across the Caribbean and shattered communities across Jamaica leaving tens of thousands displaced and at least 75 dead.
Canadian labour, community organizations and the Toronto Community Benefits Network have come together with an urgent call for solidarity to support relief funds and committing to worker-to-worker rebuilding effort.
This is a moment for Canadian labour to demonstrate global solidarity — not as charity, but as justice.
What can unions do?
Unions and locals can urgently pass motions for aid by using the sample motion below.
Motion: Support for Labour for Jamaica/Caribbean Relief
WHEREAS Hurricane Melissa has caused catastrophic destruction across Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, leaving thousands homeless and entire communities in crisis;
WHEREAS the Government of Jamaica has established a Hurricane Melissa Relief Fund to provide emergency and reconstruction support, the Toronto Community Benefits Network (TCBN) is coordinating skilled worker and union rebuilding efforts, and other Canadian and international bodies have set up relief efforts;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT [Name of Labour Council and/or affiliated local] contribute $_____ to one or more of the following:
- (Jamaica) Government of Jamaica Hurricane Melissa Relief Fund
- (Jamaica) Toronto Community Benefits Network’s Labour-to-Labour Rebuilding Fund
- (Jamaica) The Jamaican Canadian Association **
- (Caribbean) The UN World Food Programme Hurricane Melissa Families Need Your Help Now **
- (Caribbean) The Canadian Red Cross – Donate to the Hurricane Melissa Appeal **
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT [Name of local] promote the Labour for Jamaica Relief campaign and encourage members to donate and share solidarity posts using #LabourForJamaica.
What can I do?
You can:
Donate to (tax receipts are available from the organizations below with **):
- (Jamaica) Government of Jamaica Hurricane Melissa Relief Fund
- (Jamaica) Toronto Community Benefits Network’s Labour-to-Labour Rebuilding Fund
- (Jamaica) The Jamaican Canadian Association **
- (Caribbean) The UN World Food Programme Hurricane Melissa Families Need Your Help Now **
- (Caribbean) The Canadian Red Cross – Donate to the Hurricane Melissa Appeal **
Amplify these efforts through social media and other channels using the hashtags #LabourForJamaica #SolidarityAcrossBorders #JamaicaStrong
Sign this petition by United Steelworkers retirees called ‘Luggage for Jamaica: Ask Canadian Airlines to Fly Free Humanitarian Aid Baggage directed towards Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat, Sunwing Airlines, Swoop, and Flair Airlines.’
Read more about the petition and sign it here: https://www.change.org/p/luggage-for-jamaica
