Shelter from the Storm

The “Women of CAW Local 103” reported to their respective workplaces throughout Northeastern Ontario Thursday wearing orange and white “Shelter from the Storm” T-Shirts.

Locally the CAW workers were joined by a number of other businesses and community support groups also sporting the colours on the balcony of the Ontario Northland Headquarters on Oak Street as a show of support in the CAW’s efforts to educate co-workers about violence against women.

The gathering at the ONR is the conclusion of a month-long national campaign dedicated to stopping violence against women directed by the Canadian Women’s Foundation.

The proceeds from the T-shirt sales will be directed to shelters for abused women (and their children) across Canada and Community prevention programs that are breaking the cycle of violence. Locally the Ojibway Family Resource Centre and the Nipissing Transition House will benefit from this year’s campaign.

Spokes woman Debbie Graham said one hundred T-Shirts were purchased by CAW Local 103 and given to each female member of their Local.

“It started when a saw an article about the t-shirts and how the money would be used and said this is really good and we should join the campaign.”

“We know it would have been just as easy to donate the cost of the T-shirts directly to the shelters, but we felt that wearing the t-shirts brings awareness and made it stronger.”

Graham says society shies away from the issue and ignores the impact domestic violence has on everyone especially the children, and that it is time to start talking and remove the stigma.

Graham adds that next year they plan to host an even bigger and louder campaign next year.

The Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) Local 103 represents workers at Ontario Northland Transportation Commission in Moosonee, Hearst, Cochrane, Timmins, Englehart and North Bay.