The community is showing its support for the 12 Sackville firefighters who recently turned in their pagers, with local residents organizing a ‘peaceful protest’ ahead of tonight’s council meeting.
“Our firefighters have been asking for fair treatment and safer working conditions for some time, and unfortunately their concerns have not been meaningfully addressed. As a result, many of our firefighters have felt they had no choice but to step away,” Breanne Wheaton says in her Event post on Facebook, asking people to come out for the protest to stand with their local firefighters.
In a written statement released on January 8, the firefighters explain the decision to step away from the workplace was due to ongoing concerns related to management, workplace safety and harassment that had been raised repeatedly but not adequately addressed. They say the move was not a resignation but a way to underscore to their employer the seriousness of the situation and the need for prompt, effective intervention.
The firefighters have accepted an invitation to meet with Tantramar’s Chief Administrative Officer Jennifer Borne, who reached out to them following a closed-door meeting with council last Wednesday, to discuss their concerns.
The peaceful protest in support of the firefighter is expected to get under way Tuesday evening at 6:30 pm outside town hall. Everyone is invited to join in.
“This will be a peaceful, respectful demonstration to show our council that our community values those who protect us,” states Wheaton. “This is about community safety and standing up for those who serve us.”
