Family Day in NB: A step in the right direction, but…

FREDERICTON, Feb. 18, 2018 /CNW/ - This Monday, February 19^th, New Brunswick will be celebrating "Family Day" for the first time. CUPE welcomes this new statutory holiday to highlight the diversity of families in our province.

"Families come in all shapes and sizes. They may be comprised of a mother or father raising children on their own, same-sex or opposite-sex couples living with or without children, or transgender people and others whose gender identity or expression is, or is seen to be, different from their birth sex," said Todd Hill, representative of CUPE NB's Equality Committee. 

"Recognition of family diversity has come a long way in the past 20 years.  Rights that most of us take for granted were secured after years of struggle, human rights complaints and legal battles," said Daniel Légère, President of CUPE NB.

CUPE NB recognizes there is still much to be done to publicly recognize the diversity of families that makeup our population. "Celebrating the diversity of families also means we can't forget the important contribution of our "New Canadians": immigrant families who have chosen to stay and grow in New Brunswick are often forgotten," said Hill.

While New Brunswickers deserve more time to spend with their families through this holiday, this will not be a reality for many workers. "When government proclaimed this holiday, the legislation was worded in such a way that many unionized workers, like care workers and forestry workers, are not getting an extra paid public holiday. I hope this shortcoming will be fixed soon," concluded Légère.

SOURCE Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)

Daniel Légère, CUPE NB President, [phone]; Todd Hill, CUPE NB Equality Committee Representative, [phone]