Ugly Yet Noble

Spirits were high at Local 305’s Christmas celebration this past year

By Ken Dam, Representative

Christmas was ugly this year for Local 305 members. But not in the ways you are thinking.

To spice it up a bit, we joined the trendy ugly-Christmas-sweater theme. Spirits were high as many members went above and beyond a mere ugly Christmas sweater. Bells, lights, Christmas hats, and slippers took the ugly sweater theme up a notch. Congratulations to Nicole on winning the prize for best (worst?) dressed!

These annual Christmas dinners have turned into a tradition for many members. It’s a night out they look forward to. As a member of the Local 305 Board, I can attest to the fact that it is the highlight event of the year for our board. It’s a way for the union to celebrate the contributions of our hard-working healthcare workers.

As the MC for Local 305’s event, I had the privilege to share a few words of encouragement. I’d like to repeat a bit of what I shared that night here, because it is a message that applies to all our healthcare workers across the province:

“Yes, this is an evening to have fun. But I want to reiterate to each of you how valuable the work that you do is. Caring for the vulnerable in our society is a noble job. And so, I want to remind you of that, because it is easy to forget.

“The ugly realities of working in healthcare are ever apparent—the ongoing stress, the working short, the lack of resources, the lack of staff, and the lack of sufficient government investment in the sector. They all take their toll.

“But I want you to hold your head up high, whether you do direct hands-on care, keep the place clean, cook or serve, do laundry or maintenance. Your efforts all serve the noble cause of showing love and care to those who desperately need it. Never forget this.”

The event also contained financial reports, political action reports, pension highlights, member services, and a state of the local union address, all of which provided valuable information. But they are all in service of the greater cause—celebrating the noble work of the local and its members.

Congratulations to Local 305 members and to all healthcare workers! The hard work of properly equipping you, both financially and with staffing resources, continues.

Ugly Yet Noble

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