Dear Colleagues

Thank you for your patience, compassion and the work you are doing as we live through these unprecedented times.

Many of our friends and colleagues have to go into work through this public health crisis. We respect their resolve and their courage. Others are figuring out how to work at home, while juggling family demands that have significantly increased.

Through all of this, we are hearing stories of kindness, support for each other, and admirable resourcefulness. The crisis seems to have opened a bigger space for empathy and compassion.

As we all find our way through these challenging times, we ask that you extend that understanding to the many, many media workers without the benefit of a full time job. Freelance, contract and temporary workers have the added financial burden that comes with precarious work. Many struggle to make ends meet, and to live each day with that additional stress.

This small gesture on your part could help: We ask you to send the below letter to the Ministers of Heritage, Finance, and Employment, urging changes to an emergency federal funding program, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), that would allow more temporary media workers to access funding during this pandemic.

Please click here to send the letter.

Thank you in advance, for your kindness and for supporting your colleagues during this time.

Note: CMG and CWA Canada have already reached out to the Ministers.

Carmel
Carmel Smyth, National President, CMG