I am writing to you regarding the striking women of UNITE 1764. As you are no doubt aware, the women of UNITE 1764 have been striking against their employer, JB Fields for almost one year now. They are striking for fairness and equity, issues which I believe are important to members of MEC. I am once again urging MEC to support the striking women of UNITE 1764 by pulling JB Fields products from their shelves.

I am a member of MEC. Not only am I extremely disappointed at the very weak stand taken by MEC on this issue, but I am very unhappy with the way the decision has been handled. I originally telephoned the Customer Service line of MEC before Christmas to urge that JB Fields products be removed from MEC. The staffperson assured me my call would be returned. It was not. Later, I visited a MEC store in Vanouver. Not only were JB Fields products available, there were NO signs around explaining the labour dispute, as promised by MEC. I filled out a complaint form, and again the staffperson assured me that a manager would contact me. They did not. Now I am once again contacting MEC to urge the co-op to respect its committment to its members and not stock products from companies with bad labour practices.

Members of my union, CUPE 2419, frequently picket the Eaton's store in Regina for stocking JB Fields products. It does not surprise me that we have to apply such pressure to a company like Eaton's, but it does surprise me to be in a similar situation with MEC. Please do not align MEC with greedy corporate giants like Eaton's and respect the request of UNITE 1764 to boycott JB Fields products.

I look forward to actually having someone from MEC contact me on this issue.

Sincerely,