I love life and people and are asking this question? Why are you beating a dead horse? I've decided to write about just that and why? Do you give up in life on anything knowing it is so wrong ? Morally ? Illegally? I've spoken up on this issue on radio, TV and glad I had the experience with this. I've learned it is never easy to go on radio and tell the public how you feel about any issue and it didn't come easy for me, not in the least. I remember going into province house with an MLA at the time, Mark Parent. There were all kinds of speakers there, a small corner store owner, church speakers etc, that took a turn speaking. All the major networks were there. CBC, ATV and Global. Was it easy to speak on Camera? Easy answer "NO" it wasn't. I was never so grateful to have an interview on radio with Rick Howe a talk show host on News 95.7FM.
I remember that day clearly and all the events that lead up to it and after. I've watched the media mislead people into thinking that the courts struck down the ban on Sunday shopping, which never happened.
I've watched the public getting misled to believe that the plebiscite on Sunday shopping wasn't binding, which wasn't true. I've watched the media and business tell Retail workers that they would get more hours of work and that it would create more jobs. This hasn't happened either. Workers are pushing all over the globe for 15 dollars an hour (minimum wage). WHY? If Sunday shopping were so profitable, we wouldn't need a big raise, we would be getting it now. It's funny our provincial government decided to give themselves a raise, no fuss about this what so ever? Do you hear comments that inflation will increase because government gave themselves raises? Do you hear comments from people, the media when a CEO gets an increase? Will this make inflation rise? It's interesting to note, that retail workers not only lost their Sundays, they're working seven days a week on poverty wages.
If things are not getting worse for low income people, go to some stores where self serve check outs are popping out everywhere. Why is there any need of them? It's taking away jobs from workers that need it. IT's funny to watch people actually ringing groceries in for free. You already paid for that service to have someone wait on you. Now they have you working for nothing and putting someone out of work. Are retail workers asleep? Business's, the media pounded into you're heads that you're going to get more hours, it's going to create jobs by having Sunday shopping. Companies are taking from you and what are you doing...short answer, one word “NOTHING”.
It's heart breaking to see that know one seems to care anymore. Workers need a time to have a break and rest from being in these stores. I've watched retail workers being compared to other occupations like restaurants, coffee shops etc. They work on Sundays, what makes you any better? So if you buy a new car, does this mean I have to buy one too?? Games that were played and pounded into retail workers heads over and over. To make them feel like third class people! That workers should be working 24/7 because Jack forgot to buy his loaf of bread. It's brutal all of these mind games that were played on people. The media helped carry out this assault on low income earners. Instead of giving other occupations Sundays off, which the government could have done. They ignored a democratic vote. Do you know how serious this was? A vote! Binding Vote! People died for us so that we could have that choice to vote. Gave their lives up for all of us. They also gave their lives up for us, so that we could give an opinion. An opinion that we should not have to live in “FEAR” about giving one! You're all doing that in the retail sector.
Outside the government and the media, churches didn't play big role in the Sunday shopping plebiscite after a decision was made by Rodney MacDonald's government to allow Sunday shopping illegally. Churches didn't speak out about this! A VOTE that was binding and a decision by the courts that didn't rule on the Retail Uniform Business Act. Churches are run like a business, they are not preaching about the Sabbath anymore. It's not even mentioned! Since when did “GOD'S WORD ” change? They speak about young people not attending church anymore! How can they? When they have no other choice but to work on Sundays, because they are told that they have to work. Whether you believe in God or not. It's not the point I'm trying to make. No one is doing anything or speaking out for the little people. The little people are losing it all ...everything. I don't care if it's the Girl Guides promoting a day of rest. A day without traffic, a day to spend with Mom and Dad or Grandma or Grandfather. It's not about you shopping, it's about what was taken from us, when you have SIX other days to do it in. So many services are offered in Five days. Why can't store's close down just for 1 day? Our environment is going to the dogs. Wells were going dry, we're having floods, heat waves and wild fires etc. Yet people continue to shop with these stores being open day and night with their lights on? How is this saving the environment? How is encouraging traffic on our roads seven days a week helping the environment? These are the many reasons why I'm speaking out. I'm hoping that some day before it's too late, workers all over the Globe wake up. Quote of the day “ It's sad to watch people get scammed and equally sad to see they don't realize it". You have been scammed by government and business. Be proud and fight for you're kids for a better future.
Their campaign went even further and it's attack on the church congregations. Why is it OK for church members to eat out on a Sunday and not go shopping for groceries? Over and over this was pounded into their heads, making them feel guilty for restaurant, Tim Horton workers, etc, who had to work Sundays. Workers that originally chose to work on Sundays, when they were hired to work these shifts. Government could have made a decision and included them in the Sunday shopping ban. Government could have also asked workers in this occupation if they wanted to be included into a ban. Corporations did an excellent job playing one occupation off against another and using church members making them feel guilty over something that wasn't their fault. Christians are supposed to be caring people, wanting to help and support you! How is this possible, going to church then out shopping on a Sunday afterward? Church minsters are ignoring “God's” word and no longer preaching about the day of rest. You can't learn anything if it's not taught. The public was always told you can't legislate common sense! It's quite obvious you must have to legislate common sense! If everything were left to the business owner to open and pay you, what he want's to, you'd be working seven days a week for 2 dollars an hour. Quite amazing how big business is controlling media, government and “YOU”.
Before the Sunday Shopping plebiscite in 2004, I remember the debate about accepting gay marriage. Back then on radio or who ever spoke with me, it was always been thrown up in my face! Why is it OK that you don't work a Sunday while someone at a movie theater has too? At that particular time I did feel guilty, until the gay issue came up. I scratched my head!! Hmm! People were told to accept them because they were different. This had me thinking, what about the millions of other workers in retail that never worked Sundays? Should they have to work because other occupations do? My answers to so many questions were answered. I could see how we all were manipulated, put down and expected to work to serve people on a Sunday, because people had nothing better to do. I realized I'm a person too, I realized that other workers felt just like I do! But no more, I realize that we was scammed by the 1% who wants us to work for nothing seven days a week. Retail workers are people too, and it's high time things change for the better. How about Sundays and all Holidays off? How about a living wage?
We haven't progressed at all in this country, we need to learn how to “STOP”. Not to believe everything they tell us on TV or at work. It's all about making money and if we do not fend for “ÜS”, no one will do it. I'm fed up with the way retail workers are treated in general, like we are slaves of the system, to wait on you even if it's a holiday. It doesn't seem to matter. Never let someone make you think that you do not deserve any of these basic needs in life! Retail workers you deserve a hell of a lot more than what you are getting. Don't let people put you down or make you feel like nothing. There is no difference between a letter carrier or a cashier. You all have been programmed to feel that retail workers are low class paying jobs. If you do not like it, get another job. Not thinking about the poor guy or girl who takes their place. That will have the same problems. If you do not have a good living wage, you can not eat healthy and end up sick at the hospital. Taxpayers foot the bill for sick people, while CEO's make more money off the backs of hard working low income earners. Rest is required (Sundays & Holidays) so that workers get lots of rest and get time to spend with loved ones. Less stress could mean less time at outpatients.
Just imagine getting power from muskrat falls in Newfoundland when we have it already here, but wasting it! Lights on in stores around the clock seven days a week. If we are so darn concerned about the environment, how can we simply dismiss it? As you can see there are several reasons as to why we should go back to a ban on Sunday shopping.
Over all people in retail stores aren't treated like people by the media, by their business's who they work for. It's like you are third class citizens. This is the 21st Century and we actually treat people like this? A governments job to me is to look after it's citizens and not turn their backs on them. If corporations are that greedy to pay their employee's a decent wage and provide them with Sundays and Holidays off, government has failed you. It's their job to help those people who can not help themselves and have legislated law providing these things to all retail workers.
I'm sure I'm being judged on my opinions on this subject and like many others, that have opinions are judged as well. When you are afraid to give an opinion because you're boss might see it or someone who might not agree with you. There is something seriously wrong with that picture. We want to teach young people not to be afraid to give an opinion. We want to teach them the proper way to speak and give an opinion. I'm not suggesting trashing your employer on line. Just because you work for someone, doesn't mean that they own you and that you can not speak freely about any issue. That is what's wrong people! Retail workers are living in fear and scared to share their opinions. Today I'm telling you as a worker you are “NOT” a third class citizen. Our country, business's have you pounded to the ground. This is the 21st Century, people died in wars for us to have that right to vote! They died for us, so that we can speak freely and give an opinion. We're not doing that! Why celebrate Canada's Birthday? If you are too scared to give an opinion and you live in fear to what you're boss might think, what other people think. Tell me is this the kind of society, you want to leave to your kids? Seriously? The majority of you reading this may say I'm all full of BS. No, I'm not supporting a government that lied to you, business's that lied to you. I'm not supporting the media, who didn't tell you all the truth to what had happened. Just because the majority of you forgot about this, doesn't mean it's right. Stephen Harper, the majority of you voted for him and guess what? It's your fault, just like you all voting for Justin Trudeau, who is putting our country into debt. Point being, the majority isn't always right! Today I'm telling you that the majority of you let our government get away with honoring a democratic vote! A court that never ruled on Sunday shopping. Yet you are all silent about it, supporting the 1% who are making and forcing people to work on Sundays for poverty wages. Retail workers you are people too, Don't let people put you down. You're no different from someone working at a government office. You're no different from a MLA who is off on a Sunday or a holiday. If we want change and we should we have to fight for it. A few examples in the USA, workers are fighting for 15 dollars an hour and have been successful in some US states. Workers have also been pushing for stores to close on thanksgiving in the USA. Workers have convinced some business's to close its doors on thanksgiving. So never under estimate you're potential, instead of taking the easy route out and doing nothing. Please share this blog and let's make Canada, USA great again. Let's bring back family values, increase wages, legislate time off on Sundays and all holidays. Let's make life better, after all this is 2016!
