Defence workers' union questions pushback against event to honour Wainwright fire dead and injured

A flag flies at half-mast at the funeral for Sgt. Morgan Wong at an Edmonton funeral home on Oct. 25. Wong was one of the four Canadian Armed Forces members killed in the CFB Wainwright fire. Photo by Greg Southam /POSTMEDIA

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A message from a Canadian Forces-affiliated organization raising concerns about an employee plan to wear red shirts to honour the dead and injured from the Wainwright fire was distasteful and uncalled for, says the president of the union representing defence workers.

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The Union of National Defence Employees organized a Canada-wide “Red Shirt” day on Oct. 23 to support victims of the grass fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright that killed four soldiers and injured 39 others.

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UNDE national president June Winger said the event was designed to show that civilian employees backed the troops and wanted to honour those killed in the Oct. 17 incident. The tragedy hit home particularly hard as UNDE members, including civilian firefighters, had taken part in the emergency response to the incident, she added.

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Besides wearing red, event organizers also suggested the civilian defence workers could donate money to the Edmonton Firefighters Burn Treatment Society or to local burn units across Canada.

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But one day before the Red Shirt event, the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) issued an email pointing out it didn’t endorse the tribute. The CFMWS is an organization that works on behalf of the chief of the defence staff to provide programs and services to military members.

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“CFMWS will not be formally endorsing, promoting, or facilitating the proposed wear-red initiative as an organizational activity,” noted the email sent by Amy Lecompte, national manager, employment and labour relations for CFMWS. “As this initiative was developed and communicated outside of CFMWS channels, organizational endorsement could create the perception that participation in a particular group-sponsored activity is the expected means of expressing support. CFMWS believes it is important that organizational responses to events of this nature remain neutral, inclusive and equally applicable to all employees.”

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An excerpt from the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services pointing out it didn’t endorse the Red Shirt Day tribute.

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Winger said she couldn’t believe CFMWS would send out such an email. “We weren’t asking them to endorse anything. Our event was meant to be an act of compassion.”

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She described the email as “off-putting” and noted it cast doubt on the initiative; as a result, some CFMWS employees decided not to participate because they were concerned about a possible reaction from management.

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Wearing a red shirt or red clothing was a common sign of support among defence workers and the Canadian public for the military during the Afghan war.

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Lecompte wrote in her message that CFMWS appreciated the desire of the union and its members to show support for those affected by the Wainwright tragedy and the CFMWS decision should not be seen as criticism of the event.

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But Lecompte also pointed out that CFMWS was committed to maintaining a “consistent and organization-wide approach to commemorative activities and ensuring that support for those affected is not associated with any particular employee group or representative organization.”

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She also wrote that CFMWS had already invited employees across all locations to observe two minutes of silence on Oct. 21 as a collective expression of remembrance.

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Winger said she couldn’t understand why both a moment of silence and wearing a red shirt couldn’t be done to honour the fallen and injured soldiers.

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David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: ottawacitizen.com/subscribe

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