Members Rally in a snow storm

On Saturday February 18, 2012 the members of the Montague Claims Processing Center, with an RCMP, escort marched a kilometre in a snow storm to the Down East Mall for a Rally to protest the impending closure of the only EI Claims Processing Center on Prince Edward Island.  More than 200 people gathered to hear politicians and union leaders speak out against the decision to close the center.  Three of the four Island MPs were in attendance, and all spoke.  Noticeably absent was Conservative MP Gail Shea who declined the invitation to attend. Olive Crane, Conservative leader of the provincial opposition, also spoke at the event. The Island’s federal NDP leader, James Rodd was also in attendance.  Provincial politicians, Liberal, Conservative and NDP, as well as municipal leaders spoke out against the decision.  Members were joined by some of our brothers and sisters from CUPE, UPSE, the PEIFederation of Labour and the Fisherman’s union as well as several Locals of PSAC who rallied in support. Members of the general public took part in the march to the rally and stayed during the entire rally to support and cheer our members on.

During the rally members handed out postcards addressed to Minister Finley asking to reverse the decision to close the center.  One thousand post cards were handed out. 

Media present included The Guardian newspaper, the Eastern Graphic newspaper as well as CTV. 

The members from the processing center made a donation of food to the manager of the food bank after the rally.

The members from CEIU Local 90154 are mobilized and have several activities planned for the coming months.  They’ve said “we may go down, but not without a fight”.